Detailed Description
The Seeker’s Guide to Verifying the Doctrines of Divine Unity
By Muḥammad ibn Khalīl ibn Ghalbūn
Introduction, Translation, and Commentary by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAlī al-Mihīrī al-Firjānī
What are the foundations of Islamic belief, and how can they be understood through the discipline of rational theology?
The Seeker’s Guide to Verifying the Doctrines of Divine Unity (Irshād al-Murīd li-Taḥqīq ʿAqāʾid al-Tawḥīd) is a short primer in the science of kalām, based on the Short Creed of Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Sanūsī (d. 895/1490). The work presents the essential doctrines of Islamic belief in a concise and systematic form, providing a framework for understanding the principles of divine unity and the foundations of Islamic creed.
This edition brings the work to contemporary English readers through a new translation and commentary by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAlī al-Mihīrī al-Firjānī. Alongside the translated text, an introductory essay explores the nature and importance of kalām, helping readers appreciate its role in the intellectual tradition of Islamic theology.
Carefully presented for modern readers while retaining the structure and character of the classical work, this volume offers an accessible starting point for those wishing to engage with the foundational questions of Islamic doctrine and rational theology.
Inside This Book
This work explores the foundations of Islamic theology through:
- A contemporary English translation of Ibn Ghalbūn’s Irshād al-Murīd li-Taḥqīq ʿAqāʾid al-Tawḥīd.
- A concise presentation of the essential doctrines of Islamic belief.
- A text based on the Short Creed of Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Sanūsī.
- Commentary explaining key theological concepts and arguments.
- An introductory essay on the nature and importance of kalām.
- An accessible introduction to the rational foundations of Islamic creed.
- A bridge between the classical tradition of Islamic theology and the needs of contemporary English-speaking readers.
Why Read This Book?
- Gain an accessible introduction to the science of kalām.
- Explore the foundations of Islamic belief through a classical theological text.
- Understand key concepts related to tawḥīd and Islamic doctrine.
- Engage with the theological tradition associated with Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Sanūsī.
- Benefit from a contemporary English translation and explanatory commentary.
- Develop a stronger foundation for further study of Islamic theology and creed.
Who Is This Book For?
Whether you are beginning your study of Islamic theology, seeking to understand the foundations of tawḥīd, or exploring the intellectual tradition of kalām, The Seeker’s Guide to Verifying the Doctrines of Divine Unity provides a valuable introduction to the subject.
The book is particularly suited to students of Islamic knowledge, university students, researchers, educators, and readers interested in Islamic creed and theology. Its concise format and explanatory commentary make it suitable both as an introduction to the subject and as a starting point for further study.