Struggling with the philosopher : a refutation of Avicenna's metaphysics ; a new Arabic edition and English translation of Muḥammad b.ʻAbd-al-Karīm b. Ahmad al-Shahrastānī's Kitāb al-Muṣāraʻa

Muhammad b. Abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani was one of the most learned and enigmatic scholars of medieval Islam. In his work, ‘Kitab al-Musara‘a’ (‘Struggling with the Philosopher’), which is published here in English translation (together with its original Arabic text) for the first time, al-Shahrastani gives a detailed critique of the metaphysics of the great Persian philosopher Avicenna. The greater part of his ‘intellectual wrestling match’ (‘musara‘a’) is devoted to refuting Avicenna’s interpretation of the ‘Necessary Being’ which, he argues, compromises the absolute transcendence of God. For al-Shahrastani, God is beyond human comprehension and above all opposites such as existence and non-existence, unity and multiplicity, good and evil, or truth and falsehood. This work is a strong indication of the rich diversity and eclecticism that characterised intellectual discourse in medieval Islam. ‘Struggling with the Philosopher’ is an important document of Islamic intellectual history. As such, it is essential reading and a reference text for students of Islamic studies and scholars interested in the medieval Islamic world. I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili StudiesMuhammad b. Abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani was one of the most learned and enigmatic scholars of medieval Islam. In his work,'Kitab al-Musara'a'('Struggling with the Philosopher'), which is published here in English translation (together with its original Arabic text) for the first time, al-Shahrastani gives a detailed critique of the metaphysics of the great Persian philosopher Avicenna. The greater part of his'intellectual wrestling match'('musara'a') is devoted to refuting Avicenna's interpretation of the'Necessary Being'which, he argues, compromises the absolute transcendence of God. For al-Shahrastani, God is beyond human comprehension and above all opposites such as existence and non-existence, unity and multiplicity, good and evil, or truth and falsehood. This work is a strong indication of the rich diversity and eclecticism that characterised intellectual discourse in medieval Islam.'Struggling with the Philosopher'is an important document of Islamic intellectual history. As such, it is essential reading and a reference text for students of Islamic studies and scholars interested in the medieval Islamic world. "Muhammad al-Shahrastani, the famous Muslim theologian of the 12th century and author of the Book of Religious and Philosophical Sects, was greatly influenced by Ismaili teachings. In this work al-Shahrastani refutes the metaphysics of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) from an Ismaili point of view."--Publisher description

Muhammad al-Shahrastani, the famous Muslim theologian of the 12th century and author of the Book of Religious and Philosophical Sects, was greatly influenced by Ismaili teachings. In this work al-Shahrastani refutes the metaphysics of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) from an Ismaili point of view.

Taj al-Din Abu'l-Fath Muhammad b. 'Abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani (d. 548/1153) has long been known in modern scholarship as the author of the Kitab al-Milal wa'l-nihal, a comprehensive survey of the religions, sects and philosophical schools, first edited by W. Cureton in 1842-1846. Modern scholarship has revealed that Muhammed b.'abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani, the Ash'arite theologian of the 12th century, was greatly influenced by Ismaili teachings. In this work al-Shahrastani refutes the metaphysics of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) from an Ismaili point of view.