“Lectures on Islamic Theology” .. A New Release by MCE at CIBF

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair showcases a selection of its latest publications for 2025. Among the featured releases is a book, titled “Lectures on Islamic Theology and Research Methodologies” by Ali Mohamed Jabr, a renowned scholar of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.

This book combines two distinct works authored by the esteemed Azhar scholar, Professor Dr. Ali Mohamed Jabr (d. 1395 AH/1975 CE), originally written for students of the Faculty of Islamic Theology at Al-Azhar University. These works differ from the traditional Azhar curriculum, as the author sought to expose students to diverse fields of knowledge and various interpretations of Islamic, intellectual, and scientific heritage.

The first book, titled “Lectures on Islamic Theology”, aims to cultivate intellectual skills, sharpen minds, and equip students with the tools to refute misconceptions about Islamic beliefs. It begins with an exploration of the history and fundamentals of Islamic theology, discussing various schools of thought and their differing opinions. The book then delves into key theological topics, such as the divisions of knowledge, reasoning, causality, and evidence. It provides an in-depth analysis of arguments for the existence and oneness of God and concludes with a discussion on the attributes of God and the Ash‘ari school’s stance on these issues.

The second book, titled “Lectures on Research Methodologies”, examines methodologies in mathematics, natural sciences, and Islamic theology. It offers comparisons between the approaches of early and modern scholars. The book begins by defining the concept of methodology, its role in acquiring knowledge, and the distinction between scientific and non-scientific methods. It then explores the methodology of mathematical sciences, their origins, their relationship with logic, and the differences between mathematical and logical reasoning. The book also covers research methods in the natural sciences, principles of induction, and the role of theories. The final section discusses research methodologies in Islamic theology, contrasting them with philosophy, and examines the approaches of theologians toward philosophy and logic. It also explores the Qur’anic method of establishing beliefs and the differences in theological methodologies before and after Al-Ghazali’s contributions, including their stance on Aristotelian logic.

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 featured publications and hosts a variety of events, seminars, and activities aimed at promoting values of goodness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.