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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A History of Muslim Philosophy Volume 1, Book 1 Preface About four years ago I received a letter from Mr. S. M. Sharif, Educational Adviser to the Government of Pakistan and now Secretary in the Ministry of Education, drawing my attention to the fact that there was no detailed History of Muslim Philosophy in the English language and inviting me to draw up a scheme for the preparation of such a History.

The scheme prepared by me envisaged the collaboration of eighty scholars from all over the world. The blue‑prints of the plan were placed by Mr. S. M. Sharif before the Government of Pakistan for approval and provision of funds. The Cabinet by a special ordinance deputed me to edit the History, and appointed a Committee consisting of the following to steer the scheme through: Mr. I. I.

Kazi, Vice‑Chancellor, University of Sind (Chairman) The Educational Adviser to the Government of Pakistan (Member) Mr. Mumtaz Hasan, then Secretary Finance, Government of Pakistan, and now Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission (Member) Dr. Khalifah Abdul Hakim, Director, Institute of Islamic Culture, Lahore (Member) Dr. Serajul Haque, Head of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies. University of Dacca (Member) Professor M.

Abdul Hye, Vice‑Principal, Government College, Rajshahi (Member) Myself (Member‑Secretary) The Committee was later enlarged by the addition of Dr. M. Ahmed, Vice­Chancellor, Rajshahi University. But for the initiative taken by Mr. S. M. Sharif and the constant help and encouragement received from him, a liberal grant from the State, and most willing co‑operation from the Chairman and members of the Committee, it would not have been possible for me to bring this work to completion.

From the very beginning I have been aware of the sheer impossibility of doing full justice to such a vast canvas of movements, thinkers, and thoughts. I am most grateful to the large number of contributors who have made at least the outlines of the entire picture possible. As this is the first major work on the history of Muslim philosophy it is bound to have many deficiencies, but a beginning had to be made and it has been made with the hope that it will pave the way for future improvements.

In a collaboration work like this complete uniformity of language, style, and points of view, and evenness of quality and length, are hard to achieve.