Tahqiq al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyya

Tahqiq al-Iman (or Kitab al-Iman) is a major theological treatise on the nature and definition of faith (iman) and submission (islam) by the Hanbali scholar and theologian Ibn Taymiyya (661–728 AH / 1263–1328 CE) al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyyah+1.

Subject and Scope

Ibn Taymiyya composed the work to address one of the earliest and most contentious doctrinal questions in Islamic history: the theological definitions of iman and islam, the designations of faith and disbelief (al-asma'), and their associated rulings in this life and the hereafter (al-ahkam) al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyyah+1. The book clarifies the consensus of early Muslim scholars (al-salaf) regarding faith, asserting that it is a composite reality consisting of both speech and action: the speech of the heart (knowledge and conviction) and tongue (the verbal testimony), together with the deeds of the heart (intentions, love, and submission) and the physical limbs al-Iman al-Awsat+1. Consequently, faith is subject to fluctuation, increasing through righteous obedience and decreasing through sin Mawqif Ibn Taymiyya min a…+1.

Theological Arguments and Method

Ibn Taymiyya establishes his methodology by deriving doctrinal conclusions directly from the Quran and the Sunnah rather than relying primarily on late theological formulations or purely lexicographical definitions al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyyah+1. The work systematically develops several key discussions:

• The Relationship Between Iman and Islam: Examining the Hadith of Gabriel and related texts, the author explains that when iman and islam are mentioned together, islam refers to outward actions while iman designates inward conviction; when mentioned separately, either term encompasses the whole religion al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyyah+1.
• Absolute Faith vs. Base Faith: Distinguishing between unqualified, complete faith (al-iman al-mutlaq), which requires fulfilling mandatory duties and abstaining from prohibitions, and the minimum baseline of faith (mutlaq al-iman) that prevents eternal punishment in the Fire al-Mukhtasar al-Mufid fi …+1.
• Inseparability of Inward and Outward: Establishing that true inward faith in the heart necessarily generates outward compliance on the limbs, rejecting the notion that complete internal belief could exist without any bodily action al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyyah+1.

Polemics and Critiques

A substantial portion of the text is devoted to refuting non-Sunni theological schools on the question of faith al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyyah+1:

• The Murji'a and Jahmiyya: Critiqued for separating deeds from the definition of iman and restricting it solely to internal assent (tasdiq) or knowledge (ma'rifa). The author also analyzes and critiques theological positions adopted by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, al-Qadi Abu Bakr al-Baqillani, the Karramiyya, and the Jurist Murji'a (murji'at al-fuqaha') al-Iman li-Ibn Taymiyyah+1.
• The Khawarij and Mu'tazilites: Refuted for treating faith as an indivisible monolithic unit that completely vanishes upon committing a major sin, which led the Khawarij to declare sinners disbelievers and both groups to maintain that sinful believers would remain in Hellfire for eternity Mawqif Ibn Taymiyya min a…+1.

Publication and Hadith Verification

The text—also known as al-Iman al-Kabir (to distinguish it from al-Iman al-Awsat)—is included in the seventh volume of Majmu' al-Fatawa al-Iman al-Awsat+1. It gained wide circulation in a dedicated edition featuring hadith verification and authentication (takhrij) by the hadith scholar Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani Tahqiq al-Iman li-Ibn Tay…+1. This edition was issued in Beirut by al-Maktab al-Islami, with printings including a third edition, a fourth edition in 1413 AH / 1993 CE, and a fifth edition in 1416 AH / 1996 CE spanning 384 pages in one volume Tahqiq al-Iman li-Ibn Tay…+1.