ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-Ilahiyyat Volume 1 Chapter 3: Names And Attributes His Names, Attributes, Actions, Praise To Him It has been expected for the Gnostics to form one rank with regard to everything referred to the Initiator, i.e. to His Names, Attributes and Actions. But they all differed among themselves from the simplest matters to the deepest. Most of their differences are rendered to knowing His Names, Attributes and Actions.

The difference in these matters is the cornerstone for the rise of religions and sects in the global human community. The Dualists, despite their admission that there is a God Who created the cosmos; branch out into scores of groups and sects. Suffices in this regard to notice the Indian and Chinese lands where Dualism is found more than in any other place. Christianity does not lag far behind them. This religion has been divided into Jacobite, Nestorian, Melkite (Melchite) and other sects.

As for the Muslims, who form a large nation of worshippers of God in the world, they also diverged into different sects. Most of their differences stem out of their differences about the qualities and actions of the Originator.

Here are Hashwi and Hanbali folks who have reported hadith and who have views of their own about the qualities of the Originator and His actions which can be reviewed by anyone who reviews books of hadith, especially the Tawhid book by Ibn Khuzaymah, the Sunnah book by Ahmed ibn Hanbal and others. No less than them are the differences among the Mutazilites, advocates of adl and tawhid . They have scattered into many sects.

Some are Wasilis, others are Hazilis, some are Nizamis or Khabitis, up to the end of the list of sects. As for the Determinists (Jabris or Jabrites) from among the Muslims, they have branched out into Jahmis, Najjaris, Dhiraris, etc., till Sheikh Abul-Hassan al-Ashari appeared. He brought an amended method compromising the hadith folks with the Mutazilites and Jabris.

Therefore, the scholars focused on studying his beliefs and ideologies, so much so that it became an official sect (Asharism) followed by Ahl al-Sunnah. These sects did not mostly differ except about His Names, Actions and Attributes. This matter provides this chapter about doctrines with an extreme significance. So, it must not be taken lightly, and it must not be bypassed easily, indifferently.