Overview
"The subject of ""human free-will"" versus ""divine predestination"" is one of the most contentious topics in classical Islamic thought. By focusing on a theme of central importance to any philosophy of religion, and to Islam in particular, this book offers a critical study of the intellectual contributions offered to this discourse by three key medieval Islamic thinkers: Avicenna, al-Ghāzālī and Ibn ʿArabī. Through investigation of primary sources, Free Will and Predestination in Islamic Thought establishes the historical, political and intellectual circumstances which prompted Avicenna, al-Ghāzālī and Ibn ʿArabī’s attempts at harmonization. By analysing the theoretical and linguistic ‘techniques’ which were employed to convey these endeavours, this book demonstrates that the three individuals were committed to compromise between philosophical, theological and mystical outlooks. Arguing that the three scholars’ treatments of the so-called qaḍā wa’l-qadar (decree and destiny) and ikhtiyār (free-will) issues were innovative, influential and fundamentally more complex than hitherto recognized, this book contributes to a fuller understanding of Islamic intellectual history and culture and will be useful to researchers interested in Islamic Studies, Religion and Islamic Mysticism."
Full Product Details
Author: Maria De Cillis (Institute of Ismaili Studies, UK)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Weight: 0.453kg
ISBN: 9781138242746
ISBN 10: 1138242748
Pages: 260
Publication Date: 27 January 2017
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
I think that some of the important ideas that the author presents ...might provide a useful basis for further investigation of the relation between Ibn `Arabi's theosophy and the philosophical thought of Ibn Sina. - Salman Bashier, The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
I think that some of the important ideas that the author presents ...might provide a useful basis for further investigation of the relation between Ibn 'Arabi's theosophy and the philosophical thought of Ibn Sina. - Salman Bashier, The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
Author Information
Maria De Cillis is a Research Associate and the Shi‘i Studies Co-ordinator at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, Department of Academic Research and Publications, London. Her research interests focus on the Islamic tradition in the formative period, including Islamic theology, the study of the Qur’an, Islamic philosophy, Islamic spirituality and mysticism.
