Sharh Madhahib Ahl al-Sunna li-Ibn Shahin
- Author died
- 385 AH
- Editions
- Mu’assasat Qurṭubah lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzī‘
Sharh Madhahib Ahl al-Sunna (full title: Sharh Madhahib Ahl al-Sunna wa-Ma‘rifat Shara‘i‘ al-Din wa-l-Tamassuk bi-l-Sunan, "Explanation of the Doctrines of the People of the Sunna, Knowledge of the Religious Precepts, and Adherence to the Prophetic Traditions") is a theological treatise on traditionalist Sunni creed composed by the Baghdad hadith master and preacher Ibn Shahin (297–385 AH / 909–995 CE) . The text is also cited in historical and bibliographical literature under titles such as al-Kitab al-Latif li-Sharh Madhahib Ahl al-Sunna and al-Sunna .
Subject and Contents
The work articulates the creed of the traditionalist hadith scholars (Ahl al-Sunna and Ashab al-Hadith) and outlines foundational theological principles alongside refutations of dissenting doctrines . Ibn Shahin begins his personal declaration of faith (Mas'alat al-I'tiqad) by affirming the divine favor of guidance to Islam and steadfastness upon the Sunna .
The book is arranged topically and covers several major areas of creed and theology:
- Refutation of early theological sects: The work compiles reports against the Qadariyyah regarding divine decree (qadar) , the Murji'ah regarding their definition of faith (iman) as mere words without action , and the Rafidah .
- The Jahmiyya, Mu‘tazilah, and Divine Attributes: A dedicated chapter examines the doctrines of the Jahmiyya and the Mu'tazila . It affirms the vision of God (al-ru'ya) by believers in the Hereafter , upholds that the Qur'an is the uncreated speech of God , and condemns the stance of the Lafziyya (those asserting that one's pronunciation of the Qur'an is created) .
- Creedal poetry and narrations: The text preserves theological poems, including a forty-line transmission of the creedal ode al-Ha'iyya by Ibn Abi Dawud .
- Virtues of the Companions: The book transmits narrations concerning the merits of the Prophet's companions, notably the four Rightly Guided Caliphs .
Method and Transmission
Ibn Shahin composed the work following the traditional method of hadith narration with connected chains of transmission (isnad) going back through his teachers . Among his direct sources are prominent scholars such as Abu al-Qasim al-Baghawi, Ibn Abi Dawud, and Muhammad ibn Harun al-Mujaddar . Through these chains, he records theological statements and transmitted verdicts from early figures such as Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak, Sufyan al-Thawri, Waki' ibn al-Jarrah, Yazid ibn Harun, and Hammad ibn Zayd .
The surviving manuscript lineage includes a transmission through the hadith scholar Abu al-Faraj al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Tanajiri from Ibn Shahin, transmitted in later centuries by scholars including Abu al-Qasim Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Bayan al-Razzaz (in 506 AH), Abu al-Faraj Abd al-Mun'im ibn Abd al-Wahhab ibn Kulayb al-Harrani (in 595 AH), and Ahmad ibn Abd al-Da'im al-Maqdisi (in 675 AH) .
Printed Editions
The work has been published in modern editions, including:
- An edition edited by Adil ibn Muhammad, titled Sharh Madhahib Ahl al-Sunna wa-Ma‘rifat Shara‘i‘ al-Din wa-l-Tamassuk bi-l-Sunan, published by Mu’assasat Qurtuba in Cairo (1415 AH / 1995 CE) .
- An edition edited by Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Busayri, titled al-Kitab al-Latif li-Sharh Madhahib Ahl al-Sunna wa-Ma‘rifat Shara‘i‘ al-Din wa-l-Tamassuk bi-l-Sunan, published by Maktabat al-Ghuraba' al-Athariyya in Medina (1416 AH / 1995–1996 CE) .
Answer updated