Explanation and commentary on the explanation of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah on the Aqeedah al-Isbahaniyah 1/2

The sheikh published the book with a brief introduction in which he clarified that the book is originally a set of recorded lessons, then he spoke about the methodology of explaining Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (728 AH) رحمه الله and the importance of the book and its subject. Followed by an introduction from those who cared for producing this book, mentioning that one of the main goals of this book is to facilitate the scientific material of Al-Asbahani, whether religious, philosophical, theological, or logical; so that meanings are brought closer, the intended point is repeated in more than one style, the obscure is clarified, and the ambiguous is made clear. From the advantages of the book: - Simplifying the scientific material of the book and presenting it to students of knowledge in the easiest possible form. - Using examples and generating examples that bring ideas closer and facilitate understanding of the book’s material; such as illustrating the issue: (If the attribute were created in a place, the attribute would revert to that place), and clarifying the issue: (The relationship between the evidence and the meaning in existence and non-existence). - Connecting the topics of the book with each other. - Summarizing ideas after explaining and delving into their details, especially at the end of each explained issue. - Focusing on the general objectives of the book. - Explaining scientific, philosophical, and theological terms. - Demonstrating Ibn Taymiyyah’s accuracy, genius, abundant knowledge, and extensive insight, and refuting accusations against him. The opening of the book features a beautiful branching and tree diagram illustrating the map of the book’s topics, which are divided into thirteen main topics, with various sub-discussions under each. Through this, we can review the structure of the book. The book’s map: Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله did not divide the book into discussions as is known today, but the scientific material can be divided according to the Sheikh’s explanation into an introduction and several discussions, as follows: Introduction: In it, the sheikh emphasized that this book falls under the category of the science of purification and correction of creed, combating doubts, and its counterpart, the science of strengthening, which stimulates faith and fights desires. He also emphasized the brilliance of Sheikh Al-Islam’s methodology in points from the introduction, including: - His inclusion and not rejecting the explanation of a text from the texts of the Ash'ari school, but with noting his mistake. - Starting with the positive aspects of the book, highlighting them, and acknowledging what is correct in it, then clarifying what is false. - His scientific accuracy in presenting opinions and doctrines and discussing them, such as his precision in differentiating between the Baghadadi Mu'tazila and the Basri in terms of will. - His attention to methodological errors and addressing them; such as recording the flaw in Al-Asbahani’s methodology in the evidences used to prove the attributes, whether they are textual or rational.