Qaidah fi al-Mahabbah
- Author died
- 728 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-Turāth al-Islāmī
Qaidah fi al-Mahabbah (A Principle Concerning Love) is a treatise by the Hanbali theologian and jurist Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE) addressing the reality of love, will, and spiritual psychology in Islamic theology .
Attribution and Scope
The treatise is cited by Ibn Abd al-Hadi in his biographical work al-Uqud al-Durriyyah under the title of a major treatise on God's love for His servant and the servant's love for God . Ibn Taymiyya also refers to it elsewhere in his works as a foundational work among his major treatises . In manuscript copies, the opening section is introduced under the heading Fasl fi al-Hubb wa-l-Bughd (Section on Love and Hatred) .
Contents and Core Concepts
In the treatise, Ibn Taymiyya systematically expounds more than twenty foundational maxims concerning the nature of love (mahabbah), will (iradah), hatred (bughd), and aversion (karahah) :
- Origin of Action and Inaction: Love and intention serve as the fundamental source and starting point for every motion and action in the created world, whereas hatred and aversion serve as the source of every abstention and cessation .
- Love as the Foundation of Religion: Love and will form the underlying basis of all religion, whether sound or corrupted . The essence of praiseworthy love commanded by God is His exclusive worship without partners, and the integrity of creation depends upon directing ultimate love and movement solely to Him .
- Corrupt and Derivative Love: Any love that is not grounded in loving God and seeking His Countenance is invalid and corrupt . Associating partners with God in action originates in polytheism of love .
- Critique of Passionate Love: The text includes an analysis of the term ishq (passionate or obsessive love), detailing doctrinal and ethical critiques against attributing it to God or directing it improperly toward creation .
- Psychology of Sin and Faith: Ibn Taymiyya argues that committing prohibitions stems from a deficiency in faith and love; a believer may succumb due to overpowering desire, but inward faith requires that the sinful act remains accompanied by internal aversion and fear of divine punishment .
Manuscripts and Editions
A ninth-century AH manuscript written in Naskh script is preserved at the Zahiriyyah Library in Damascus . Muhammad Rashad Salim discovered and photographed the manuscript in 1975, subsequently editing and publishing the work in the second volume of his compilation Jami' al-Rasa'il . It was later published as an independent volume edited by Fawwaz Ahmad al-Zimrili in 1420 AH .
Answer updated