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The Exoteric Aḥmad Ibn Idrīs
A Sufi's Critique on the MadhÄhib and the WahhÄbÄ«s
Series: - Islamic History and Civilization, Volume: 31
The Moroccan mystic and theologian Aḥmad b. Idrīs (1749-1837) was one of the most dynamic personalities in the Islamic world of the 19th century. Through his teachings and the activity of his students important Sufi orders were founded which exerted wide-ranging social and political influence, orders such as the Sanūsiyya in Libya and the Khatmiyya in the Sudan. To date, publications dealing with him have especially focused on his biography and particular aspects of his mystical doctrines.
In the present work an Arabic edition and translation with commentary of two texts are made available which throw light on Ibn IdrÄ«s' attitude towards the religious-dogmatic questions of his day and age. The first text, RisÄlat al-Radd âalÄ ahl al-raây, provides information about Ibn IdrÄ«s' relation to the Islamic schools of jurisprudence, in particular his position regarding the ijtihÄd-taqlÄ«d debate which was so significant in the 18th and 19th centuries. Like many similarly minded scholars of his time, AhÌ£mad b. IdrÄ«s categorically rejects the authority of the established schools of jurisprudence and favors instead the application of personal methods in deriving a legal judgement.
The second text presented here is a vivid report by one of his students describing a debate which Ibn IdrÄ«s, at an advanced age, entered into with a WahhÄbÄ« theologian in the Yemenite city of sabyÄ in 1832. The text makes clear with regard to which points Ibn IdrÄ«s hoped to establish agreement with the WahhÄbÄ«s, and where it was not possible to reach any mutual understanding.
The introduction of the present book examines the tumultuous political circumstances in which both Arabic texts were composed and sketches the larger cultural and intellectual context which shaped Ibn Idrīs' world of ideas.
In the present work an Arabic edition and translation with commentary of two texts are made available which throw light on Ibn IdrÄ«s' attitude towards the religious-dogmatic questions of his day and age. The first text, RisÄlat al-Radd âalÄ ahl al-raây, provides information about Ibn IdrÄ«s' relation to the Islamic schools of jurisprudence, in particular his position regarding the ijtihÄd-taqlÄ«d debate which was so significant in the 18th and 19th centuries. Like many similarly minded scholars of his time, AhÌ£mad b. IdrÄ«s categorically rejects the authority of the established schools of jurisprudence and favors instead the application of personal methods in deriving a legal judgement.
The second text presented here is a vivid report by one of his students describing a debate which Ibn IdrÄ«s, at an advanced age, entered into with a WahhÄbÄ« theologian in the Yemenite city of sabyÄ in 1832. The text makes clear with regard to which points Ibn IdrÄ«s hoped to establish agreement with the WahhÄbÄ«s, and where it was not possible to reach any mutual understanding.
The introduction of the present book examines the tumultuous political circumstances in which both Arabic texts were composed and sketches the larger cultural and intellectual context which shaped Ibn Idrīs' world of ideas.
'...constitue un outil précieux et un vivant éclairage de première main sur le monde islamique au début du XIXe siècle.â
N. Grandin, Comptes Rendus.
'...a fine example of scholarly teamwork and shows how many hitherto neglected aspects of later Sufi history can still be discovered.'
Annemarie Schimmel, Journal of Islamic Studies, 2001.
N. Grandin, Comptes Rendus.
'...a fine example of scholarly teamwork and shows how many hitherto neglected aspects of later Sufi history can still be discovered.'
Annemarie Schimmel, Journal of Islamic Studies, 2001.