Raf al-Shubha wa al-Gharar amman yahtajj ala fil al-Maasi bil-Qadar

Raf al-Shubha wa al-Gharar amman yahtajj ala fil al-Maasi bil-Qadar (Arabic: رفع الشبهة والغرر عمن يحتج على فعل المعاصي بالقدر, lit. 'Dispelling the Doubt and Deception from Those Who Use Predestination to Justify Committing Sins') is a theological treatise written by the Palestinian-born Hanbali jurist and scholar Mari ibn Yusuf al-Karmi (d. 1033 AH / 1624 CE) Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…+1. The work is also recorded in biographical and bibliographical dictionaries under the title Daf al-Shubha wa al-Gharar Hadiyat al-Arifin Asma al…+1.

Background and Purpose

The treatise arose following a scholarly discussion regarding issues of divine decree (qadar) Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. Al-Karmi was informed about certain antinomian dervishes and Sufis who abandoned mandatory rituals such as prayer and fasting, indulged in prohibited pleasures including wine, and claimed that their actions were unalterably predestined because "the pens have been lifted and the pages have dried" Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. These individuals supported their stance by citing the prophetic report describing the debate between Adam and Moses, wherein the Prophet stated: فحج آدم موسى ("Adam overcame Moses in argument") Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…+1.

A legal question regarding this matter had previously been submitted to the Ottoman Grand Mufti Abu al-Su'ud al-'Imadi (author of the Quranic commentary), who responded with stern admonition and harsh rebuke in accordance with the customary style of issuing fatwas, but without systematically dismantling the philosophical and doctrinal doubts underpinning their claims Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. Al-Karmi consequently authored this treatise to provide detailed, definitive doctrinal refutations based on both textual evidence (naql) and rational argumentation ('aql) Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…+1.

Structure and Content

Al-Karmi organized the treatise around five core queries and objections, providing a structured response to each Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…+1:

1. The Role of Human Effort and Means (asbab): The first query addresses whether actions have any utility if everything is already decreed and known by God Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. Al-Karmi explains that divine decree encompasses not only the final outcomes but also the causes and means leading to them Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. Abandoning secondary causes is contrary to revelation, reason, and human nature; righteous acts are ordained means for achieving salvation and reward, just as eating is the means for sustenance Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…+1. In this section, he references his own treatise Ithaf Dhawi al-Albab fi Qawlihi Ta'ala Yamhu Allahu ma Yasha'u wa-Yuthbit Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara… as well as his book Shifa al-Sudur fi Ziyarat al-Mashahid wa-al-Qubur Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara….
2. The Hadith of Adam and Moses: The second query tackles why Adam's argument was accepted if predestination cannot be used as an excuse for disobedience Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. Drawing heavily upon the explanations of Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Karmi establishes that Adam did not cite divine decree to justify committing a sin—which he had already repented of and been forgiven for—but rather cited it regarding the resultant calamity (al-masibah) of descending from Paradise to earth, since divine decree is invoked in response to tribulations rather than to excuse transgressions Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara….
3. Evidence Invalidating the Justification of Sins by Decree: The third point provides the textual and rational evidence refuting the use of divine decree to excuse sins, demonstrating that accepting such excuses would invalidate prophetic warnings and make even Iblis (Satan) and Pharaoh blameless Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara….
4. Divine Creation of Human Actions and Accountability: The fourth query addresses the dilemma of how humans can be held responsible and punished if God is the sole creator of all occurrences Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. Al-Karmi analyzes the differing views of theological groups, including the Mu'tazilah, Jabriyyah, Imamiyyah, and Zaydiyyah, and articulates the majority Sunni stance: God is the sole creator of everything, while human beings possess genuine agency, choice, and capacity, rendering them responsible for their acquired actions (kasb) Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara….
5. The Claims of Disbelievers and Prophets' Preaching: The fifth point addresses the hypothetical objection that a disbeliever might challenge a prophet by demanding that God create faith in him first Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…. Al-Karmi refutes this objection, showing that it stems from the same false logic as Iblis's protestations, and references his discussion of this issue in his Quranic commentary, al-Burhan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara….

Method and Sources

Al-Karmi quotes extensively from classical scholars of hadith, jurisprudence, and theology, including al-Nawawi, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Ibn al-Jawzi, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya Raf al-Shubha wa al-Ghara…+2. The work was later quoted by subsequent scholars, including Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini (d. 1188 AH) in his theological work Lawami al-Anwar al-Bahiyyah Lawami al-Anwar al-Bahiyy….

Modern Editions

The treatise has been published in modern scholarly editions, including:

• An edition edited by As'ad Muhammad al-Maghribi, published by Dar Hira' in Mecca (1410 AH / 1989 CE) al-Qawaid fi Tawhid al-Ib….
• An edition edited by 'Adil al-Jutayli, published by Maktabat al-Sahwa in Kuwait (1410 AH / 1990 CE) Juhud al-Shaykh Muhammad ….
• An edition edited by Dr. 'Abdullah ibn Sulayman al-Ghufayli Majallat al-Buhuth al-Isl….