- BOOK ID
- point
- Foreword
- Preface
- Lesson 1: Why Should We Know God?
- Lesson 2: The Ways of Knowing God
- Lesson 3: Natural Disposition (Fiṭrah) and Knowing God
- point
- Definition of Fiṭrah
- The Distinctive Features of Fiṭrah
- Fiṭrah in the Domain of Knowledge and Sensory Perception
- Intrinsic (fiṭrī) Knowledge
- Instinctive Inclinations
- Fiṭrah and Search for God
- Fiṭrah and Inclination to God
- What Scholars Say
- Fiṭrah and Religion from the Perspective of Revelation
- Review Questions
- Lesson 4: Order in the Universe and Knowing God
- Lesson 5: Assessment of Hume’s Objections to the Argument of Design
- Lesson 6: The Argument of Contingency
- Lesson 7: The Argument of Possibility and Necessity
- Lesson 8: The Unity of God’s Essence and Attributes
- Lesson 9: The Unity of God in Creation
- point
- Reason and the Divine Unity in Creation
- The Qur’an and the Divine Unity in Creation
- Traditions and the Divine Unity in Creation
- The Interpretation of the Divine Unity in Creation
- The Dualists and the Misgiving of Evils
- Reply to a Question
- The Divine Unity in Creation and the Problem of Ascribing Evils to God
- Review Questions
- Lesson 10: The Divine Unity in Lordship
- Lesson 11: The Divine Unity in Worship
- Lesson 12: The Attributes of God
- Lesson 13: The Knowledge of God
- Lesson 14: God’s Power and Will
- Lesson 15: Life, Pre-existence and Eternity
- Lesson 16: The Divine Will and Decree
- Lesson 17: The Divine Speech and Word
- point
- 1. The Ahl al-Ḥadīth and Ḥanbalīs
- 2. Justice-Oriented Theologians
- 3. The Ash‘arīs and Māturdīs
- 4. Muslim Philosophers
- The Word of God in the Qur’an and the Traditions
- The Contingency of God’s Word
- The Immaculate Imāms (‘a) and the Issue of Contingency of God’s Word
- The Absence of Lie in God’s Word
- Review Questions
- Lesson 18: The Attributes of Khabariyyah
- Lesson 19: Negative Attributes (Al-Ṣifāt al-Salbiyyah)
- Lesson 20: The Divine Justice and Wisdom
- Lesson 21: Rational Goodness and Evil
- point
- An Elucidation of the Rule of Rational Goodness and Evil
- Theoretical Reason and Practical Intellect
- The Affirmers and Negationists
- Appreciation and Condemnation, Reward and Punishment
- Incumbent upon Allah
- The Proofs Substantiating Rational Goodness and Evil
- Rational Goodness and Evil in the Qur’an and the Traditions
- Review Questions
- Lesson 22: The Proofs of Divine Justice and Wisdom
- point
- 1. The Proof of Essential Necessity
- 2. The Proof of Special Attention (‘ināyah)
- 3. The Omniscience and Self-sufficiency of God
- 4. The Lack of Claimant and the Existence of Ṣārif
- 5. Signs of the Divine Justice and Wisdom in Nature
- Design and Perfection as Viewed by Scientists and Scholars
- Design in the Plant Kingdom
- Factors that Contribute to the Suitability of the Earth for Living
- Review Questions
- Lesson 23: The Creation as Goal-oriented
- Lesson 24: Evil and the Best Order
- Lesson 25: Evil and the Justice of God
- point
- General Welfare and Public Good
- Unpleasant Things and Understanding the Sweetness of Doing Good
- Undesirables and the Blossoming of Talents
- Painful Incidents or Warning Signs
- Istidrāj and Ibtilā
- The Role of Sins in the Occurrence of Painful Incidents
- The Saints of God’s Account as Separate
- Evil and Retributory Justice
- Pains and Rewards
- Concluding Points
- Review Questions
- Lesson 26: Man and Freewill
- point
- The Theologians’ Opinions on the Interpretation of Freewill
- 2. The Theory of Kasb
- The Theory of the “Position between Two Positions” (amr bayn al-amrayn)
- A Manifestation of the Divine Grace
- Known Only to the True Men of Learning
- An Illustrious Example
- A Firm Principle
- Imām al-Hādī (‘a) and the Interpretation of Amr Bayn al-Amrayn
- The Philosophical Interpretation of Amr Bayn al-Amrayn
- A Study of the Book of the Self
- Review Questions
- Lesson 27: Misgivings of the Predeterminists
- point
- The Divine Decree, Predestination and the Eternal Knowledge of God
- The Correct Interpretation of Qaḍā and Qadr
- Reinforcement of the Free-will on the Basis of the Principle of Qaḍā and Qadar
- God’s Will and Man’s Free-will
- Is Will a Voluntary Action?
- The Divine Unity in Creation and the Issue of Predetermination
- The Universality of the Divine Power and Man’s Freewill
- The Divine Guidance and Misguidance and Man’s Freewill
- Review Questions
- Lesson 28: The Mandatoriness of Obligation
- Lesson 29: The Necessity for Grace
assets of the classical texts of our pious predecessors and the integrity and credibility of their authors call for particular and due efforts, accurateness and reflection in the rewriting, modification and writing of textbooks.
On the other hand, the change and transformation in the orientations, needs, expectations, methods, and models in training and education, multiply the responsibilities of the administrators and officials dealing with education and research affairs as well as academic planning in the Islamic seminary, as they have to perform their functions constantly by presenting new and original categories, patterns and frameworks and by improving the substance of textbooks.
As such, on the basis of the abovementioned needs and concerns, Al-Muṣṭafā International University has embarked on reviewing, modifying and producing textbooks, thereby typesetting, compiling and publishing hundreds of titles.
Along this line, while keeping the originality and substantial richness of the surviving precious treasures of the past scholars and by utilizing the educational technology and observing the modern principles, standards and patterns, it strives to present texts compatible with the objectives and within the framework of the approved programs and subjects, intellectual level, and expectations of the students.
Walking along this long and winding road necessitates the all-out support and cooperation of the esteemed professors, experts, academic directors, and students. By offering their suggestions, criticisms and opinions, they could help us in correctly and successfully treading this difficult and tortuous path.
We take this opportunity to express our utmost gratitude to those who have done their best to bring this project
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