THE POSITION OF ASSAD BIN EUPHRATES JUDGE OF THE PEOPLE OF FANCIES COLLECTIVELY AND STUDY

Abstract

This research paves the way with the importance of refuting and criticizing the offenders (Ahlu Bida’ah) in the manner of the predecessors of this nation, especially by the emergence of new sects and the spreading of innovated acts and beliefs (Bid’ah). The latter approach was also followed by the great scholar, Assad ibn al-Furat, also known as the judge, whereby he clarified the way of the pious pioneers as opposed to their contemporary opponents. Also, by referring to this great Maliki Imam this should somehow subdue contemporary people who call themselves Maliki and claim to be following the Maliki school (Madhab) but contradicting Imam Malik’s doctrine. Therefore, it is worth knowing such early scholars rather than those who came after. In this essay, we discuss the attitudes of such a great scholar, Assad ibn al-Furat, towards  the offenders of sunnah (Ahlu Bida’ah) as to complete this encyclopedia that is devoted to Imam Assad ibn al-Furat and as a continuation to his creed chapter that we have introduced previously. This paper is divided into two topics. The first of them Ilm al-Kalām ( Islamic scholastic theology), which is subdivided into five demands. The second topics is          concerned with Assad ibn al-Furat, the judge, which contains two major demands. The first of which introduces the letter of Assad in the compulsation of following the Sunnah and its reputation and the second topic discusses his criticism on the opposers of Sunnah (Ahlu Bida’ah). Finally, the work is wrapped up with a conclusion summing up the most important results that were achieved and referring the interested reader to some references. Keywords: Sects, Bid’ah, Innovation, Controversy, Heresy, Schools, Sunnah.