Sharh Kitab al-Iman li Abi Ubayd - al-Rajihi
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Sharh Kitab al-Iman li Abi Ubayd - al-Rajihi
Sharh Kitab al-Iman li Abi Ubayd (Arabic: شرح كتاب الإيمان لأبي عبيد, lit. 'Commentary on the Book of Faith by Abu Ubayd') is an Islamic theological commentary by the contemporary scholar Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah al-Rajihi on the early creedal treatise Kitab al-Iman by Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam (157–224 AH).
Background and Context
The base work, authored by the early traditionist and jurist Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam, addresses the nature, marks, practices, degrees, and perfection of faith (iman). Al-Rajihi’s commentary originated as an intensive educational lecture series (dawrah ilmiyyah) that was subsequently transcribed and circulated.
In his introductory remarks, al-Rajihi establishes the authenticity of Abu Ubayd's treatise by examining its transmitted chain of narration (isnad), which runs through Abu Muhammad Abd al-Rahman ibn Uthman ibn Abi Nasr (d. 420 AH) from Abu Ya'qub Ishaq ibn Ahmad al-Askari, a companion of Abu Ubayd.
Content and Doctrinal Themes
The commentary explains the classical Sunni tenets regarding faith and systematically responds to opposing theological factions:
- Definition of Faith: Al-Rajihi articulates the consensus of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jama'ah that faith comprises conviction in the heart (i'tiqad bi-l-janan), verbal affirmation by the tongue (qawl bi-l-lisan), and physical deeds by the limbs (amal bi-l-arkan), increasing through obedience and decreasing through sin.
- Critique of Opponents: The work refutes the views of pure Murji'ites (al-Murji'ah al-Mahdah), such as the Jahmiyyah who reduced faith to inward belief or knowledge alone, as well as the juristic Murji'ites (Murji'at al-Fuqaha), who restricted faith to belief and speech while excluding physical actions from its core definition. Al-Rajihi emphasizes that the disagreement with Murji'at al-Fuqaha is not merely semantic (lafzi), detailing the doctrinal and practical ramifications of excluding actions from the definition of faith.
- Exception in Faith (al-Istithna'): The author discusses the ruling on saying "I am a believer, if God wills" (ana mu'min in sha' Allah), contrasting the absolute prohibition maintained by the Murji'ah with the nuanced stance of Sunni traditionists, who permit it when referring to the fulfillment of all mandatory works, seeking blessing, or leaving the final outcome to God.
- Degrees of Faith: The commentary elaborates on the conceptual distinction between complete, absolute faith (al-iman al-mutlaq) and the essential baseline of faith (mutlaq al-iman), noting that a sinful Muslim possesses the baseline of faith rather than faith in its unconditioned, perfected sense.
Answer updated