Sharh al-Wasitiyya - Yusuf al-Ghufays
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- Sharh al-Wasitiyya - Yusuf al-Ghufays
Sharh al-Wasitiyya (Arabic: شرح العقيدة الواسطية) is a contemporary theological commentary by the Saudi scholar Yusuf al-Ghufays on the foundational creedal treatise al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya by Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE).
Nature and Origin
The work originated as a series of recorded scholarly lectures delivered by al-Ghufays, which were subsequently transcribed and published in digital compilations and research databases such as al-Maktaba al-Shamila. It forms part of the modern pedagogical literature dedicated to explaining classical Hanbali and Sunni creedal texts.
Scope and Methodology
In his exposition, al-Ghufays examines the core theological tenets articulated in Ibn Taymiyya's text, emphasizing that al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya is a comprehensive treatise covering the fundamental principles of religion (usul al-din), particularly issues that became subjects of dispute among theological groups.
Al-Ghufays's commentary addresses several key areas:
- Divine Names and Attributes (al-Asma' wa-l-Sifat): He notes that Ibn Taymiyya devoted extensive attention to the divine names and attributes due to the centrality and gravity of historical controversies surrounding them. Al-Ghufays details the Sunni approach of affirming these attributes without distortion (tahrif), denial (ta'til), anthropomorphic description (takyif), or likening to creation (tamthil).
- Dialectical and Rational Framing: The commentary explores Ibn Taymiyya’s argumentation methods, highlighting dialectical principles such as inferring disputed matters from agreed-upon premises (al-istidlal 'ala al-mukhtalaf bi-l-mu'talaf), which al-Ghufays identifies as both a scriptural and rational method of debate.
- Pillars of Faith: The work follows the text's elaboration on the six pillars of faith—belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree (qadar)—and outlines the positions of traditional Sunni orthodoxy against divergent theological views.
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