Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi
Mukhtasar al-Uluw lil-Ali al-Azim
- Author died
- 748 AH
- Editions
- al-Maktab al-Islāmī
Mukhtasar al-Uluw lil-Ali al-Azim is an abridgment prepared by Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani of the classical theological treatise on divine transcendence (al-uluw) by Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi (673–748 AH / 1274–1348 CE), originally titled al-Uluw lil-Ali al-Azim wa-Iydah Sahih al-Akhbar min Saqimiha .
Background and Composition
The idea for the abridgment originated in Ramadan 1391 AH during a journey to perform Umrah, when the publisher Zuhayr al-Shawish suggested during a scholarly discussion that al-Albani edit and verify the narrations of al-Dhahabi's Kitab al-Uluw as part of a series of creedal texts for al-Maktab al-Islami . Al-Albani accepted the task on the condition that he also abridge the text by expunging defective, strange, and redundant narrations, arguing for the necessity of isolating solely authenticated evidence . The editorial staff at al-Maktab al-Islami in Damascus assisted by copying the manuscript alongside the original printed text and cross-referencing al-Albani's notes and marginalia .
Methodology and Content
The original work by al-Dhahabi—also referred to historically as Kitab al-Arsh—compiled Quranic verses, prophetic traditions, and reports from early Muslim authorities up to the late sixth century AH asserting that God is established above His Throne, distinct from creation (ba'in min khalqihi), while remaining with creation through His knowledge .
In producing the abridgment, al-Albani applied critical hadith analysis to the source material:
- He omitted inauthentic and unverified narrations, including well-known problematic reports such as the narration of the creaking (hadith al-atit), as well as reports that contained disabling defects despite al-Dhahabi's explicit authentication of them .
- He retained sound narrations from the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions, the Successors, and leading scholars across theological and legal traditions .
- He prefaced the book with an extensive introduction outlining the historical controversy surrounding divine attributes, refuting figurative interpretation (ta'wil), addressing philosophical doubts regarding direction (jiha) and place (makan), and critiquing the arguments of theological opponents and modern figures .
Publication
The work was issued by al-Maktab al-Islami in Beirut in a single volume comprising 304 pages, with subsequent printings including a second edition published in 1412 AH / 1991 CE .
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