The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair showcases several of its latest 2025 publications. Among these is “Naseeb al-Mu’tazilah fi Tatwir ‘Ilm al-Kalam” (“The Contribution of the Mu’tazilites to the Development of Islamic Theology”), authored by Mohammed al-Sayed Naeem, a scholar from Al-Azhar.
The publication delves into the role of the Mu’tazilites in advancing Islamic theology, particularly focusing on their intellectual contributions. Dr. Mohammed Naeem elucidates their varied contributions to the discourse of Islamic theology, their interactions with philosophical thought, and how they utilized debates with various Islamic sects to enrich their theological positions.
The book is organized into an introduction, two main parts, and a conclusion. The introduction provides a summary and references the sources consulted during the research. It also presents a prelude on the Islamic creed prior to its engagement with other cultures, exploring the differences in opinion among the esteemed companions of the Prophet, may God be pleased with them, the causes of these divisions, and debates over specific doctrinal matters, such as the implications of committing major sins.
The first part, titled “The Interaction of Muslims with Other Nations and Its Effects,” examines how non-Islamic beliefs seeped into Muslim doctrine due to their interactions with other cultures. It details how the Islamic creed became encircled by threats, necessitating staunch defenders to protect it and counter the arguments of adversaries who were armed with logic and philosophy and engaged in intense debate and discourse. The Mu’tazilites emerged as these defenders, adeptly engaging their doctrinal opponents using comparable intellectual arms. This analysis is expanded over four chapters.
The second part, titled “The Principles and Approach of the Mu’tazilites,” delves into the contributions of the Mu’tazilites to theological research and their methodological approach. It discusses their examinations of God’s essence, attributes, relationship with creation, and the moral actions of His subjects, including the predetermined rewards or punishments. This part highlights the five core principles that were central to the Mu’tazilite school, which shaped their discourse and formed the basis of both agreement and debate with other scholars.
The conclusion, as drawn by the author, emphasizes that Islamic theology underwent significant development through the Mu’tazilites in two main aspects. From an objective standpoint, the Mu’tazilites addressed numerous theological issues arising from their core and derived theological principles about God’s nature, His attributes, His interactions with creation, and human actions, along with their divine repercussions. From a methodological perspective, they prioritized rational thinking, constructed arguments based on logic, incorporated philosophical insights, and supported their views with scriptural evidence, sometimes interpreting these texts in ways that aligned with rational conclusions even when they diverged from traditional interpretations.
The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand hosts a large number of the Council’s distinguished publications, in addition to organizing a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting values of kindness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.
The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand is located at the Cairo International Book Fair next to the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand , in Heritage Hall (Hall No. 4), at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the Fifth Settlement.