SCHOLARSINK

NEWER OLDER

JUNE 25, 2011 2:36

Do Asharis Believe Allah Can Lie?

Imam Ibn al-Humams al-Musayarah & Imkan al-Kadhib

(http://scholarsink.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/do-asha%e2%80%99ris-believe-allah-can-
lie/imam-ibn-al-humams-al-musayarah-imkan-al-kadhib-2/)

[Click on the above link for the pdf, see full Arabic text pp. 19-24]

This paper in Urdu-Arabic introduces for the first time, Imam Ahmad Raza Khans marginal notes
to one of the commonly used passages from Imam Ibn al-Humams al-Musayarahon Islamic
Doctrineto support the erroneous view that lying is possible for Allah Exalted is He according to the
Ashari school. Imam Ahmad Razas commentary has been taken from a hand-copy from the
original that was published in a collection of his marginal notes on various religious texts titled
Imam Ahmad Raza Ki Hashiya Nigaari by Idarah Tahqeeqat Imam Ahmad Raza (Karachi,
1986). This paper translates the Arabic commentary into Urdu, elaborates the difficult theological
points and develops the argument. The theological case is a follows:

1. Imam Ibn al-Humam quotes Imam al-Nasafi, from al-Umdah, who asserts that Mutazilites
believe Allah has power to be unjust and to lie but refrains from such acts.
2. Ibn al-Humam objects to al-Nasafi claiming that such a view is more befitting to the Ashari
school than the Mutazili school but he does not give any reason as to why this is the case.
3. The commentator, Ibn Abi al-Shareef, a student of Ibn a-Humam, claims in al-Musamarah that
Imam al-Nasafi seemingly contradicts himself because he also mentioned Mutazilites believe evil
acts are not in the power of Allah Most High.
4. Imam Ahmad Raza illustrates how Imam al-Nasafi is correct in his assertion and it is Imam Ibn
al-Humam who in fact slips. He does this by showing how the reason behind Ibn al-Humams
assumption (that this view more befitting to the Ashari madhhab) is one that he himself negates
from the Asharis earlier in the Musayarah. Imam Ahmad Raza supports his argument using the
commentary of Ibn al-Humams major student, Qasim ibn Qutlubugha, who also notes this slip
by Ibn al-Humam and uses passages from the Musayarah and Musamarah that negate such a
view from Asharis.
5. The upshot of the commentary is that lying is not within the Divine Qudra according to the
Ashari school and in fact the entire Sunni scholarship. Ibn al-Humam and Ibn al-Shareef have
explicitly mentioned this in various other passages of their texts. However a particular sect of the
 Mutazilites does believe evil acts are in the Divine Qudra and thus Imam al-Nasafis assertion is
true and it halts the objection of Imam Ibn al-Humam.

I have made every attempt to keep my commentary elaborative and simple. I offer my thanks to
Allamah Ahmad Misbahi of al-Jamiah al-Asharfiyah (Mubarakpur, India) who revised this paper
and made useful amendments to it.

Mohammad Monawwar Ateeq

Rajab 1432H

Filed under: Kalam, Textual Criticism About these ads (http://en.wordpress.com/about-

these-ads/)

2 Responses

Abd-Allah al-Mujaddidi al-Naqshbandi says:

June 26, 2011 at 2:36
Salam Alaikum Sayyidi

Your blog brings immense joy to the hearts of Sunnis worldwide.

Jazakum Allahu khayraa.

REPLY
Adam Carem says:
June 25, 2011 at 2:36
Excellent work Shaykh. May Allah bless you for your grand efforts. Amin.

Sunnaforum.com

REPLY

Blog at WordPress.com.

The Grid Focus Theme.