A Medieval Critique of Anthropomorphism: Ibn Al-Jawzi's Kitab Akhbar As-Sifat : A Critical Edition of the Arabic Text With Translation, Introduction and ... (Islamic Philosophy, Theology, and Science) [Hardcover]

Merlin L. Swartz (Author), Abu Al-Faraj Abd Al-Rahman Ibn Ali Ibn Al-Jawzi (Author), Abu Al-Fadl Althi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Science | Publication Date: March 1, 2002

This study consists of a critical edition of Ibn al-Jawzi's "Kitab Akhbar as-Sifat" (KAS) along with an annotated translation and introduction. KAS is a critique of anthropomorphic conceptions of God, directed in the first instance against Ibn al-Jawzi's fellow Hanbalis, but also against Sunni traditionalists more generally. As an intra-Hanbali polemic, KAS sheds light on the intellectual fault-lines within mediaeval Hanbalism, and reveals the extent to which "kalam" had penetrated the Hanbalite school by the 12th century. In his work, Ibn al-Jawzi makes extensive use of "kalam", drawing on its technical language and crafting his arguments against anthropomorphism on the basis of the dialectical methods developed within the great theological schools of mediaeval Islam. The study also contains a translation of al-Althi's "Risala", a pointed response to Ibn al-Jawzi, written by a fellow Hanbali from a traditionalist perspective.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 330 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub; annotated edition edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004123768
• ISBN-13: 978-9004123762
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,212,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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