Zein, Ibrahim Muhammad. “The Methodology of Imam al-Ḥaramayn in the Study of ʿAqīdah (Belief),” Year 5, Issue 17 (Summer 1420 AH/ 1999 CE), Pp. 89-109.

Abstract

The study of the Islamic faith (doctrine) and its approach through the historic kalām (theological) controversy is useful to try to draw lessons to stimulate ʿaqīdah (belief) in our contemporary reality. Ibrahim Zein’s article presents an assessment of the book The Methodology of Imam al-Ḥaramayn in the Study of ʿAqīdah by Dr. Ahmad Abdul Latif. It assesses the methodology of Imam al-Ḥaramayn in dealing with Islamic ʿaqīdah, attempting to assess it by resorting to the methodology of the Salaf (predecessors) as explained by Ibn Taymiyyah. It is a comparison between two methodologies. The issue of Qur’anic ta’wīl (hermeneutics) is considered the core of the methodological disagreement between the theological schools of thought and the Salafi school of thought, and whether interpretation reaches ʿaqīdah through reason (ʿaql) or through religious texts (naql). It also discusses the extent of influence played by Greek logic in the Arab-Islamic field.