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Sa'id Foudah

Sa'id 'Abd al-Latif Foudah (; born 1967) is a Palestinian-Jordanian Shafi'i-Ash'ari scholar of Islamic theology (kalam), logic (mantiq), legal theory (usul al-fiqh), and the Chief Theology and Philosophy Adviser to the Imam al-Razi Chair at the King Hussein bin Talal Mosque in Amman, Jordan. He is best known for his criticism of the Wahhabi movement, Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728/1328) and his followers.

Sheikh Sa'id Foudah has had a significant influence in combating Salafi (or Taymi) creed. This is despite the fact that he grew up in an environment where criticising some Salafi scholars, such as Ibn Taymiyya or Ibn al-Qayyim, would lead to severe condemnation from the wider scholarly community. His book Al-Kashif al-Saghir sparked considerable controversy; however, it paved the way for others to openly critique Salafi beliefs.

He is also known for his refutations of the Sufi master Ibn Arabi (in particular, wahdat al-wujud) and Aristotelian or Avicennian philosophy.

Birth

He was born in 1967 in the Jordanian town of al-Karameh, but his family originates from the village of Bayt Dajan in Palestine.

Education

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in 'aqidah (Islamic creed) from the University of Jordan, and a PhD from the World Islamic Sciences and Education University. He also has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Jordan University of Science and Technology and is fluent in Arabic, English, and Italian.

Teachers

He was trained in the sciences of tafsir, tajwid, tasawwuf, and ilm al-kalam, under scholars throughout the Middle East, including Nuh al-Qudah, 'Ali Gum'a, , and Ahmad al-Jamal of the Shadhiliyya tariqa in Jordan, among many others.

Views

In his commentary on the al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya (the creed of al-Tahawi), he criticizes the Wahhabi scholar Ibn Baz (d. 1420/1999) for an erroneous critique of the “people of kalam.” Foudah asserts: “The sole intention of Ibn Baz... was to oppose the scholars of kalam, even if with falsehood.” Elsewhere in his commentary, Foudah asserts the vital importance of studying the articles of belief in Islam, stating: “'Aqidah is sought after for itself, not only because it is a condition for the validity of actions. Even if an action is not obligatory, 'aqidah is still necessary, for it is the foundation of everything.”

In another treatise entitled “Critiquing A Critique,” Foudah refutes Ibn Taymiyya's claims that the study of logic is forbidden in Islam and defends Imam al-Ghazali's statement that logic is the basis of all sciences. In yet another treatise by Foudah, he responds to the infamous speech on the subject of faith and reason given by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2006. The Pope offended many in the Muslim world by repeating a quote by a medieval Christian scholar that referred to the teachings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad as “evil and inhumane” and being “spread by the sword.” Foudah devoted his treatise to the Pope's remarks regarding Islam's relationship with reason, stating: “The Pope wants to say that the view of the Church in regards to Allah is in conformity with reason, but the view of Muslims with regards to this is contrary to reason! These are words which cause in us shock, laughter and bewilderment.”

According to Jeffry R. Halverson, the Pope's narrow characterization of Islam's conception of God reflects only the Islam of the Atharis, and not at all the theological doctrines of the Ash'aris and Maturidis. This point is not lost on Foudah, who laments the demise of theology and other rational sciences that once flourished in the Islamic world, stating:

In another treatise entitled “Modern Salafism and its Effect on Muslim Disunity,” Foudah notes the detrimental effects that Salafi thought has had on the Muslim world. He also recounts a series of systematic refutations or polemics against Salafi beliefs, writing:

Works

His books and treatises are numerous, most of them in the science of 'aqidah, kalam (Islamic scholastic theology), logic and in response to philosophers and secularists and to those who he considers as mubtadi'a (heretical innovators) such as Ibn Taymiyya and his followers, particularly the Wahhabi movement.

He has authored and edited over eighty books and articles on almost every topic of Islamic systematic theology. Among his notable publications are the following:

  • Al-Sharh al-Kabir 'ala al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya (), a monumental and large commentary on al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya in over 1450 pages and 2 volumes.
  • Al-Kashif al-Saghir 'An 'Aqa'id Ibn Taymiyya (), regarding the creed of Ibn Taymiyya, he demonstrated the anthropomorphism (TajsÄ«m) advocated by Ibn Taymiyya by referencing his own works, as well as other beliefs Ibn Taymiyya held, such as the concept of perpetual creation, divine complexity (the idea that God is composed parts), the notion of God being finite and limited in nature, etc. These ideas are widely regarded by Muslims as being a deviancy and contrary to the Qur'an and Sunnah. However, Wahhabis often attempt to deny or downplay these associations. He dedicated this work to Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d. 606/1210) and Muhammad Zahid al-Kawthari (d. 1371/1951).
  • ' (), commentary on the book of , concerning Ibn Taymiyya's belief in infinite regress.
  • Naqd al-Risala al-Tadmuriyya (), critique of Ibn Taymiyya's work on creed. Translated into English by Suraqah Abdul Aziz.
  • Fatḥ al-WadÅ«d bi-Sharḥ Risālat al-Sharif al-Jurjani fi Wahdat al-Wujud (), a refutation of the teachings of Ibn 'Arabi as contained in the writings of al-Sharif al-Jurjani.
  • Risalatan fi Wahdat al-Wujud (), a refutation of the teachings of Ibn 'Arabi, which expands upon the refutation in "Fatḥ al-WadÅ«d".
  • Munāqashāt wa RudÅ«d ma'a al-Shaykh 'Abd al-GhanÄ« al-NābulsÄ« (), a refutation of the teachings of Ibn 'Arabi as found in the works of 'Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, which further expands upon the refutation found in Foudah's previous anti-Ibn 'Arabi output.
  • Tahdhib Sharh al-Sanusiyya (), summary of the explanation of the creed of Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Sanusi (d. 895/1490). Translated into English by Suraqah Abdul Aziz.
  • Tad'im al-Mantiq (), in support of the science of logic.
  • Misbah al-Arwah fi Usul al-Din (), editing of al-Baydawi's work on scholastic theology.
  • ' (), editing of 'Ala' al-Din al-Bukhari's work against Ibn Taymiyya.
  • Masa'il al-Ikhtilaf bayna al-Asha'ira wa al-Maturidiyya (), commentary on Ibn Kamal Pasha's work about the differences between the Ash'aris and the Maturidis in theology, in which Foudah succinctly explains the causes of the disagreements and their levels. Translated into English by Suraqah Abdul Aziz.

Notes

See also

References

External links