Rayy al-Zaman bi-Majalis Shuab al-Iman
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- Editions
- Maktabat Durūs al-Dār
Rayy al-Zaman bi-Majalis Shu‘ab al-Iman (Arabic: ري الظمآن بمجالس شعب الإيمان, lit. 'Quenching the Thirst through the Sessions on the Branches of Faith') is a multi-volume work on Islamic creed and faith by the contemporary scholar Abu Hamza Ghazi bin Salim Aflah al-Badawi . It serves as a pedagogical abridgment, critical refinement, and commentary on the classical hadith collection al-Jami‘ li-Shu‘ab al-Iman by al-Bayhaqi, arranged around the six fundamental pillars of faith .
Origin and Composition
The book originated from teaching circles conducted by the author on al-Bayhaqi's Shu‘ab al-Iman. An initial attempt to teach the work began on 23 Shawwal 1430 AH but was not completed . Aflah resumed the lessons on Tuesday, 21 Sha‘ban 1441 AH, ultimately delivering over one hundred sessions .
A group of students transcribed thirty-seven of these sessions—specifically those dedicated to the six pillars of faith—and reviewed and corrected the transcriptions . Aflah subsequently revised the text, authenticated the cited narrations, added references (takhrij), removed unnecessary material, inserted additional scholastic benefits, and structured the work under clear headings, concluding his preface on 22 Muharram 1442 AH .
Method and Structure
Aflah structured his work to refine and clarify al-Jami‘ li-Shu‘ab al-Iman, drawing a comparison between his effort and the method used by al-Mizzi in refining Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi's biographical dictionary al-Kamal fi Asma' al-Rijal . His approach involved:
- Selecting authentic and acceptable hadiths and traditions (athar) while removing weak reports that were deemed unsuitable, or explicitly noting their weakness when cited .
- Supplying supplementary authentic narrations and discussions from outside al-Bayhaqi's text to provide comprehensive coverage of theological issues .
- Integrating Quranic verses alongside classical exegeses from the Prophet's Companions, the Successors (Tabi'un), and subsequent scholars, while referencing them to primary sourced collections .
- Presenting the material in accessible language suited for both beginners and advanced students of Islamic knowledge .
The published series is divided into thematic parts corresponding to the branches of the six pillars of faith, including parts dedicated to belief in Allah, belief in the Messengers, belief in the Angels, belief in Divine Decree (al-Qada' wa-l-Qadar), and belief in the Last Day .
Publication and Reception
The book was published by Maktabat Duroos al-Dar in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with its first edition appearing in 1444 AH / 2022 CE .
The work includes forewords and commendations written in Rajab 1443 AH by several scholars:
- Dr. Aziz bin Farhan al-Anazi (4 Rajab 1443 AH), former director of the Da‘wah and Guidance Center in Dubai .
- Sheikh Nu‘man bin Abd al-Karim al-Watar (11 Rajab 1443 AH), director of Dar al-Hadith al-Salafiyya in Yakhtul, Mokha, Yemen .
- Sheikh Abd al-Aziz bin Yahya al-Bura'i (18 Rajab 1443 AH), director of Dar al-Hadith al-Salafiyya in Ibb, Yemen .
- Dr. Rashad bin Hammud al-Hazmi (21 Rajab 1443 AH) .
- Sheikh Muhammad bin Abd Allah Ba Musa, director of Dar al-Hadith and the al-Salam Scientific Center in Hodeidah, Yemen .
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