Ibn Taymiyya And Ibn Al-Mutahhar Al-Hilli: Shi\u27i Polemics And The Struggle For Religious Authority In Medieval Islam

Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328), one of the most controversial thinkers in Islamic religious history, was repeatedly imprisoned during his lifetime. Today, he is revered by what is called the Wahhabi movement and championed by Salafi groups who demand a return to the pristine golden age of the Prophet. His writings have also been used by radical groups, such as al-Qaeda, to justify acts of violence and armed struggle. In order to explain the widespread present-day influence and prominence of a rather obscure medieval figure, this volume offers a fresh perspective on his life, thought and legacy. The articles contained herein, written by some leading authorities in the field, study Ibn Taymiyya\u27s highly original contributions to Islamic theology, law, Qur\u27anic exegesis and political thought. Contrary to his current image as an anti-rationalist puritan, this collection shows Ibn Taymiyya to be one of the most intellectually rigorous, complex, and interesting personages in Islamic history. This is the first comprehensive academic treatment of Ibn Taymiyya to appear in a Western language in over half a century. It should be of major importance to scholars of Islamic intellectual history, as well as to students of modern Islamic movements and ideologies