عقيدة السفاريني الحنبلي في إثبات نصوص الصفات وموقفه من مدارس أهل السنة العقدية [The Creed of al-Saffārīnī al-Ḥanbalī on Affirming the Texts of the Divine Attributes and His Position toward the Sunni Theological Schools]

Abstract

The study examines the views of Imām Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Sālim al-Saffārīnī (d. 1188 AH). Al-Saffārīnī is considered one of the major figures of the Hanbali school, and he had a noticeable influence on later scholars, especially in the field of creed. This is evidenced by his famous book “Lawāmiʿ al-Anwār al-Bahiyyah wa Sawāṭiʿ al-Asrār al-Athariyyah”, in which he gathered the statements of Hanbali imams and various doctrinal schools, as well as by the attention scholars have given to his work.Among the main aims of this research is to identify al-Saffārīnī’s stance on affirming the scriptural texts regarding the Divine Attributes, and his position concerning the doctrinal schools of Ahl al-Sunnah in this regard. The study attempts to clarify the theological disagreements between these schools and analyze their causes.Among the most important findings is that al-Saffārīnī, in most of his theological views, is in agreement with the earlier Hanbali scholars who preceded him in writing on creed, and that the issue of affirming the scriptural texts of the Attributes is a central matter for understanding the doctrinal disagreements among the Sunni schools. The research also reveals the breadth of al-Saffārīnī’s knowledge and his trustworthiness in transmitting, as well as his deep respect for the scholars of the religion despite their differing schools and doctrines.