Masa'il al-Aqida fi Kitab al-Tawhid min Sahih al-Bukhari
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- Masa'il al-Aqida fi Kitab al-Tawhid min Sahih al-Bukhari
Masa'il al-Aqida fi Kitab al-Tawhid min Sahih al-Bukhari (Issues of Creed in the Book of Divine Unity from Sahih al-Bukhari) is an academic study in Islamic theology by Yusuf al-Hawshan (Yusuf ibn Hammud Hawshan al-Hawshan), presented as a master's thesis at King Saud University in 1417–1418 AH (1997–1998 CE) under the supervision of Abd al-Aziz Sayf al-Nasr Abd al-Aziz . The work systematically extracts, categorizes, and examines the theological topics and doctrines contained in the concluding book of Sahih al-Bukhari, titled Kitab al-Tawhid (The Book of Divine Unity), analyzing them in light of the creed of early Muslim scholarship (al-salaf al-salih) .
Background and Purpose
The author undertook the study to highlight the theological contributions of Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari as a theologian and not solely as a hadith specialist and jurist . Another stated objective was to demonstrate al-Bukhari's methodology of deriving doctrinal points directly from the Quran and the Sunnah, especially in his opposition to theological factions such as the Jahmiyya, the Murji'ah, the Kharijites, the Rafida, and the Qadariyya (identified in the text with the Mu'tazila) .
The work also explores al-Bukhari's stance during the historical controversy regarding the creation of the Quran (khalq al-Quran) and examines divergences where later commentators on his collection—such as al-Khattabi in A'lam al-Hadith and Ibn Battal—departed from al-Bukhari's doctrinal stances on divine attributes by resorting to allegorical interpretation (ta'wil) or dismissing specific solitary narrations (ahad) .
Scope and Structure
The book is organized into an introduction, a preliminary study, two main parts, an appendix, and a conclusion :
- Preliminary Study (al-Tamhid): Divided into two sections, covering the biography of al-Bukhari (his lineage, education, teachers, students, virtues, standing, the trial concerning the pronunciation of the Quran, and death) and an introduction to al-Jami' al-Sahih (its composition, methodology, and the significance of Kitab al-Tawhid as the 91st and final book of the collection, comprising 58 chapters and 245 marfu' narrations) .
- Part One (al-Bab al-Awwal): Studies foundational creedal themes across four chapters: tawhid and refutations of the Jahmiyya; the primary obligation incumbent upon accountable persons (awwal wajib 'ala al-mukallafin); God's Most Beautiful Names (al-Asma' al-Husna); and the legal and theological rulings pertaining to divine names .
- Part Two (al-Bab al-Thani): Focuses on the divine attributes (al-Sifat al-Ilahiyya) across a preface and five chapters: essential attributes (al-sifat al-dhatiyya, such as Hearing, Seeing, Knowledge, Power, Will, and narrative attributes including the Face, Eye, Hands, and Fingers); action-related attributes (al-sifat al-fi'liyya, including optional divine acts, ascension over the Throne [al-istiwa'], and highness [al-'uluww]); the beatific vision of God (al-ru'ya); God's speech (sifat al-kalam); and the actions of servants (af'al al-'ibad) .
- Appendix and Conclusion: Details al-Bukhari's methodology in articulating creed and answering theological opponents, followed by a summary of findings and recommendations .
Method
The author employs an inductive approach to gather the theological issues and an analytical method to interpret the texts, relying primarily on synthesizing al-Bukhari's chapter headings (tarajim) with the evidence cited under them to determine his doctrinal intent . The study draws heavily upon the statements of early traditionists and classical commentaries, particularly citing Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's Fath al-Bari and his Taghliq al-Ta'liq for tracing suspended (mu'allaq) chains of transmission .
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