Description
Against Heterodoxies (al-Luma')
Book Summary
This work presents the thought of one of the most influential theologians of Sunni Islam, Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari. In "Against Heterodoxies (al-Luma')", the author establishes a middle path between extreme religious literalism and unbounded rationalism, offering a synthesis that has shaped Islamic theology for over ten centuries. The reader will find a fundamental text for understanding how reason and faith can dialogue within the Islamic tradition, as well as the foundations of Ash'arite thought that remains current in broad currents of contemporary Islam.
What is it about?
In this work, al-Ash'ari develops a systematic defense of Islamic orthodoxy against the doctrinal deviations of his time. The author argues against the positions of the most intransigent literalists, who rejected any use of reason in matters of faith, and also against extreme rationalists, who subordinated revelation to the human intellect. Through a dialectical method, the text expounds the foundations of Sunni theology, addressing issues such as the nature of God, predestination, divine justice, and the interpretation of sacred texts. The work represents an effort to harmonize reason with tradition, establishing a balance that has endured as a reference in Islamic thought.
Main Topics
- Defense of Sunni orthodoxy against heresies and doctrinal deviations.
- Relationship between reason and revelation in Islamic theology.
- Critique of extreme literalism and unbounded rationalism.
- Divine nature and attributes from the Ash'arite perspective.
- Predestination, free will, and divine justice.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and researchers of philosophy, theology, and the history of Islamic thought. It is also of great interest to specialists in comparative religions, as well as to readers with an academic background who wish to understand the intellectual foundations of Sunni Islam and its historical development. Due to its depth and technical nature, it is recommended for those who already possess prior knowledge of medieval philosophy or Islamic theology.
What this book offers
- Direct access to a foundational work of Ash'arite thought, of great influence in Sunni Islam.
- Understanding of the synthesis between reason and faith that characterizes one of the most important theological currents of Islam.
- Contextualization of the doctrinal debates that have marked Islamic intellectual history.
- Perspective on how Islamic thought addressed universal philosophical and theological questions.
Technical Data
- Author: Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari
- Publisher: Editorial Biblioteca Nueva
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: PHILOSOPHY, HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION AND BELIEFS
- Collection: CLASSICS OF THOUGHT
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: May 2006
- Number of pages: 256
- Weight: 313 g
Editorial Assessment
This edition of "Against Heterodoxies (al-Luma')" is a valuable tool for the study of classical Islamic thought. Al-Ash'ari's work maintains its relevance as a reference for understanding the theological debates that remain current in the contemporary Islamic world. Its balanced approach between reason and tradition offers essential interpretive keys for any scholar of philosophy and religion.