Maqalat al-Islamiyyin
Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin is a key early work that surveys what Muslims believe and the differences among worshippers. It was written by the Sunni scholar Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (d. 935). He may have built on an earlier Mu'tazili book by Abu al-Qasim al-Balkhi with the same title, so parts of it reflect his Mu'tazili period, while other parts may come from earlier ideas. Some scholars, like al-Dhahabi, say he wrote it in his later years, showing tolerance for different Islamic sects. The book first gives neutral accounts of Muslim sects, then the views of non-Muslim groups and philosophers, and finally a critical look at God's names and attributes. It has two parts: (1) the history of the split among Muslims and a long list of major groups; (2) a thematic guide to the questions theologians debated. It aims to be an impartial handbook rather than a critique of correct or incorrect doctrine, helping readers understand what various sects and thinkers believed. Maqalat inspired many later works, including al-Farq bayna al-Firaq, al-Tabsir fi al-Din, al-Milal wa al-Nihal, and I'tiqadat Firaq al-Muslimin wa al-Mushrikin. Ahmad al-Tayyib, grand Imam of al-Azhar, praised the book for its valuable words.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:24 (CET).