Al-Kharida Al-Bahia: An Abridged English Commentary

Description

Al-Kharida al-Bahia (the Glimmering Pearl) is an introductory text for students of ‘ilm Al-Kalam. Like many other works written for teaching purposes in the Islamic world, the Kharida is actually a poem. Students studying this poem under a teacher, would be expected to memorize the entire text, before attending lessons with their teacher in which he would commentate on each line. What follows is a summarized English commentary on the Kharida. Each chapter will begin with a translated portion of the poem, followed by a commentary on that portion. The commentary draws from material found elsewhere on this blog, but simplifies this material further. There is also greater focus on the textual basis for the Ash’ari position on various creedal issues. Prologue Introduction The Basmalla Creed Rational Judgement Propositions What is a Rational Judgment? Categories of Rational Judgment Accountability The Existence of God Necessity and Contingency The World’s Emergence God’s Existence The Quranic Proof for God’s Existence The Privative Attributes and Causality Categorization of the Divine Attributes What is a Privation? The Five Privative Attributes Beginninglessness and Everlastingness Independence Uniqueness Oneness Oneness of Being, Attributes, and Actions Opposing views on Causality Incorporeality and Immutability Tafwid and Ta’wil The Attributes of Meaning The Seven Attributes Power Will Knowledge Life Hearing and Seeing Speech Self and Uttered Speech Distinguishing Will from Command Existence of the Attributes The Relations Relations of Knowledge and Speech Relations of Power and Will Relations of Hearing and Seeing That Which is Impossible for Allah Negation of Necessities Proof for Each of the Impossibilities That Which is Possible for Allah Creating or Leaving Contingents Non-Existent Actions do not Add or Subtract from His Perfection He is not Obligated to do what is Better for Creation Names that are Based on Actions Seeing Allah The Believers will See their Lord Prophethood Prophets and Messengers Allah is not Obligated to Send Prophets Knowing the True Prophets of God The Prophethood of Muhammed ﷺ The Quranic Challenge Extra-Quranic Miracles Muhammed ﷺ’s Life What is Necessary for Prophets Virtuousness Truthfulness Complete Delivery of the Message Acuity What is Impossible for Prophets What is Possible for Prophets Revelation The Prophet has Come with Truth The Resurrection and the Gathering The Final Judgement The Sirat, Mizan, and Hawd Reward and Punishment The Prophets the Angels and the Jinn The Awliya’ Conclusion Iman and Islam The Shahadah Belief Should Lead to Action Al-Kharida al-Bahia