Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin (The Articles of the Islamists and the Differences among the Worshippers) is a seminal work in Islamic theology, authored by the prominent scholar Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (d. 324 AH/936 AD). This report details the nature of the text, its historical importance, the availability of English PDF translations, and the challenges researchers face when seeking a complete, authorized English version.
For advanced researchers, the best "English" tool is actually an (like the 1969 edition) used alongside a lexicon. You will find many high-quality scans of the original Arabic on platforms like Shamela.ws or Al-Maktaba al-Shamela . When searching, try "مقالات الإسلاميين pdf" to get the primary source, then use Google Translate or ChatGPT for rapid parsing of specific paragraphs.
Why is this significant? McCarthy's volume does more than just translate the Kitāb al-Lumaʿ (al-Ashʿarī's other major theological work). It contains:
: Summaries and translated excerpts are often included in broader works like A History of Muslim Philosophy Related Translations Internet Archive hosts translations of his other major work, maqalat al-islamiyyin english pdf
Academic papers focusing specifically on Al-Ash'ari's chapters on the Shi'a or the Mu'tazilah. How to Maximize Academic Use of the Text
In a pivotal section of the book, al-Ash'ari outlines the consensus creed of the Ahl al-Hadith (the traditionalists and scholars of prophetic narrations). By detailing this creed, al-Ash'ari positions his own theological leanings, aligning himself with the traditional orthodoxy championed by figures like Ahmad ibn Hanbal, while utilizing systematic language to clarify their stances.
| Source | What it contains | How to access | |--------|----------------|----------------| | (by R.M. Frank) | Long passages from Maqālāt on Muʿtazila | JSTOR / University libraries | | "Early Islamic Creeds" (ed. A.J. Wensinck) | Contains excerpts comparing sects | Archive.org (limited preview) | | "Islamic Sects in the Maqālāt of al-Ashʿarī" – PhD diss. (University of Chicago, 1980s) | Near-complete thematic translation | ProQuest / interlibrary loan | For advanced researchers, the best "English" tool is
Page 10 * SUMMARY ......................... * I. * I. INTRODUCTION .................... * II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ............. * University of Glasgow Maqalat al-Islamiyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin - SifatuSafwa
To help you find the exact material you need for your research, could you specify if you are looking for a of the text (like the Mu'tazilite or Shi'a chapters), or if you need help finding peer-reviewed commentary on Al-Ash'ari? Share public link
For those who find the critical edition complex, there are other printed and digital editions available from various academic libraries. The edition edited by Muḥammad Muḥyī al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd, published by al-Maktabah al-ʿAṣrīyah in 1999, is also widely available in library catalogues. Searching academic library portals (such as those of LUMS, IIUM, or via WorldCat) with the transliterated title will often lead to available copies or scans. Why is this significant
Before al-Ash'ari wrote the Maqalat , much of the literature concerning Islamic sects ( heresiography ) was highly polemical. Authors frequently wrote about opposing groups with the explicit intent of refuting them, which often led to caricature, exaggeration, and the misrepresentation of theological positions.
Finding a complete, single-volume English translation of the Maqalat al-Islamiyyin in PDF format can be challenging due to the immense length and linguistic complexity of the original Arabic text. However, several highly valuable academic translations, partial translations, and analytical works are accessible online. 1. Academic Translations and Compilations
It maps out exactly how early Muslims debated the nature of God, free will, and political leadership. Structural Overview of the Book
Al-Ash'ari subsequently formulated a theological framework that synthesized traditionalist scripturalism (the school of Ahmad ibn Hanbal) with rationalistic dialectic methodology ( kalam ). Maqalat al-Islamiyyin was written during or shortly after this transitional period, reflecting his deep insider knowledge of the heterodox sects he sought to document and critique. Structure and Contents of Maqalat al-Islamiyyin
