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UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 NorthZeeb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 IMPACT OF THE HISTORICAL SETTINGS OF IBN TAYHIYAH ON HIS PROGRAM OF REFORM DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University by Mustafa Abdul-Basit Ahmed, M.A. (Distinction and Honors) ^ e $ $ 0 The Ohio State University 1997 Dissertation Committee: Professor Jane Hathaway, Adviser Approved by Professor Frederic Cadora Professor Joseph Zeidan Adviser [This Dissertation has been approved with Distinction and Honors] Department of History UMI Number: 9721065 Copyright 1997 by Ahmed, Mustafa Abdul-Basit All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9721065 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Copyright by Mustafa Abdul-Basit Ahmed 1997 ABSTRACT This dissertation attempts to study and analyze the program of reform of the seventh/thirteenth century Muslim scholar and activist, Ibn Taymiyah, in light of historical contexts. The three areas which are investigated in this work to best understand Ibn Taymiyah's attack on the problems of his setting are the intellectual, social, and political contexts of his time; his writings and thoughts on those contexts; and the activities he engaged in socially and politically to induce reform. In contrast to the generally stagnant intellectual trend of his time, Ibn Taymiyah is found to be a prolific writer and original thinker, who went against many of the social and intellectual norms of his age. He wrote about the way a government based on the guidelines of the Qur'an and Sunnah should function. He used reason to refute the kalam of the influential Ash'ari 'ulamâ ' and preferred ijtihâd over blind following of the madhhabs (consequently coming under detention on several occasions). Ibn Taymiyah played a pivotal supportive role in the Mamlük triumph over the Mongols both as a scholar and warrior. The Shi'ah concepts ii of infallibility and an awaited imam, which were welcomed by the newly converted Muslim Mongol rulers, were refuted. He issued numerous fatwas against practices rampant in Mamlük society, particularly among Sufis, which were innovations to the sharl'ah. Though he was not affiliated with the authorities and many of his thoughts seemed radical in his day, Ibn Taymiyah took an active role in the implementation of the reforms he proposed and even enforced the sharl'ah with the support of his followers. This study shows that Ibn Taymiyah's occasional agreements with the Mamlük authorities or the populace were not based on appeasement but rather on what he deemed best for the propagation of the sharl'ah. Yet Ibn Taymiyah prioritized the expression of his views based on the political and social conditions of his society. When he did not reject Sufism completely— due to a lack of knowledge of the reality of the movement— he weakened his fight against Sufi innovations. Ibn Taymiyah's call for a return to the way of the earliest generations caused the Salafi viewpoint to gain momentum. Ill To those who seek the truth with objectivity and neutrality, attempting to liberate themselves from the influence preconceived notions. IV Acknowledgments First I must express my heartfelt gratitude to Allah, subhânahu wa ta'âlâ, for the countless times He helped me overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and for the wise twists of fate that are His signs. And certainly it was through His guidance and support that this work was accomplished. I must then convey my sincere appreciation to Prof. Jane Hathaway, who did much more than just thoroughly review this dissertation and provide many valuable recommendations. She truly went out-of-her-way to help bring this project to its completion. My thanks also extend to Prof. Joseph Zeidan for his continuous assistance, constructive suggestions and overall generosity of time. I am grateful to Prof. Frederic Cadora for his helpful advice and ongoing support. The late Prof. Marilyn Waldman deserves special recognition here. It was she who helped me plan and start this project. I thank Prof. Dona Straley for guiding me through a jungle of library sources and materials. Michael Toth, head of Loan Division at The Ohio State University libraries, made my dealings with the library swift and simple. Arif Faridi typed a considerable part of the material of this dissertation. V My wife Margaret has been, for years now, outstanding in her support of my work. I am grateful to her for typing parts of this treatise. She lent me a special hand when taking it upon herself to bear nearly all the responsibilities of the family. With her help, I was able to find the much needed time to concentrate on my research. Finally, I must acknowledge the understanding my children Fatima, Mariam, Yahya, Suhaib, and Sumaya have shown in the past four and-a-half years for dad's inability to be with them more. VI VITA January 30, 1951 .............. B o m - Asyut, Egypt 1970-1974 ..................... B.S., Asyut University, Asyut, Egypt 1990-1992....................... M.A. (with distinction and honors). The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1974-1977 ..................... Administrative Assistant, Arab Contractors Company, Cairo, Egypt 1977-1983 ..................... Lecturer in Islamic Studies and Thought, Islamic Bureau, Sanaa, Yemen Arab Republic 1981-1983 ..................... Lecturer in Islamic Studies and Thought at Army, Air Force, and Police Colleges, Sanaa, Yemen Arab Republic 1983-Present .................. Researcher (Qur'an and M o d e m Science) and U.S. Representative, Islamic Academy for Scientific Research sponsored by King Abdul-Aziz University and Muslim World League, Saudi Arabia 1990-Present .................. Teaching Associate for Arabic Language and Research Associate for Arabic Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. V I 1 PUBLICATIONS 1. Ahmed, Mustafa A., Shaykh a.l-Islâ m Taqiy-ud-dl n Ihn Taymiyah wa Mawqifuhu min at-Tas awwuf, The Islamic Academy for Scientific Research, Bridgeview, XL, 1994 (Arabic) 2. Ahmed, Mustafa A., "Principles of Faith in the Islamic Religion", Islamic Bureau, Sana'a', Yemen, 1982 (Arabic) 3. Moore, Keith L . , Zindani, Abdul-Majeed A. and Ahmed, Mustafa A., "Qur'an and Modern Science: Correlation Studies", The Islamic Academy for Scientific Research, Bridgeview, II., 1990 (English) 4. Zindani, A.A.,Ahmed, Mustafa A., Tobin, Margaret B. and Persaud, T.V.N. (eds. ) , Human Development as Described in the Qur'an and Sunnah: Correlation with Modern Embryology", Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference, Moscow, Russia, Islamic Academy for Scientific Research, Saudi Arabia, 1994 (English) 5. Goeringer, G.C., Zindani, Abdul-Majeed A. and Ahmed, Mustafa A., "Some Aspects of the Historical Progress of Embryology Through the Ages", in Zindani, A.A. et al, eds.. Human Development as Described in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hay'at al-1'jâz al-'Ilmî, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1992 6. Johnson, E. Marshall, Zindani, Abdul-Majeed A. and Ahmed, Mustafa A., "Description of Human Development: The Nutfah Stage", in Zindani, A.A. et al, eds.. Human Development as Described in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hay'at al-1'jâz al-'Ilmx, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1992 7. Moore, Keith L . , Zindani, Abdul-Majeed A. and Ahmed, Mustafa A., "Description of Human Development: Alaqah and Mudghah Stages", in Zindani, A.A. et al, eds.. Human Development as Described in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hay'at al-1'jâz al-'Ilmi, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1992 8. Goeringer, G.C., Zindani, Abdul-Majeed A. and Ahmed, Mustafa A., "Description of Human Development: Izam and Lahm Stages", in Zindani, A. A. et al, eds.. Human Development as Described in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hay'at al-1'jâz al-'Ilmi, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1992 V l l l 9. Persaud, T.V.N., Zindani, Abdul-Majeed A. and Ahmed, Mustafa A., "Description of Human Development: Nash'ah Stage - The Fetal Period", in Zindani, A.A. et al, eds.. Human Development as Described in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hay'at al-1'jâz al-'Ilml, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1992 10. Zindani, Abdul-Majeed A., Ahmed, Mustafa A., and Simpson, Joe Leigh, "Embryogenesis and Human Development in the First Forty Days", in Zindani, A.A. et al, eds.. Human Development as Described in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hay'at al-1'jâz al-'Ilmî, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1992 11.