“Imam Al-Haramayn and Ash’ari School” – A New Release at CIBF

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair is showcasing a selection of its latest publications for 2025.

 Among the featured releases is the book, titled “Imam Al-Haramayn and His Influence on the Formation of the Ash’ari School” by Ali Mohamed Jabr, a distinguished scholar of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.

The book delves into three key issues in the thought of Imam Al-Juwayni: the theory of knowledge, the creation of the world, and divine attributes. The author begins by introducing Imam Al-Haramayn, providing readers with an in-depth account of his life, scholarly formation, teachers, students, and the praise he received from other scholars.

The first chapter of the book focuses on the theory of knowledge. The second chapter addresses the concept of the creation of the world, emphasizing its significance as one of the key tenets upheld by Ahl Al-Sunnah. The third chapter explores texts that may imply anthropomorphism and analyzes their meanings.

In the conclusion, the author discusses Imam Al-Haramayn’s logical and theological methodology. He emphasizes that while several factors contributed to Al-Juwayni’s adoption of Ash’ari thought, his choice was not driven by blind imitation of his father or other prominent Ash’ari scholars. Instead, it was the result of careful deliberation, critical study, and examination of the views of different schools of thought. Imam Al-Haramayn embraced Ash’ari theology with conviction, considering it the closest interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah. He passionately defended the Ash’ari school against its critics, demonstrating the depth of his understanding rather than the rigidity of blind prejudice.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a dedicated stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, taking place from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide range of the Council’s distinguished publications and hosts a variety of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting values of goodness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.