Al-Tawhid (book): Difference between revisions

The book '''''Al-Tawḥid''''' (التوحید) is one of early and significant [[twelver Shi'a]] theological sources which is compiled by the reputable [[Muhaddith]] of fourth/tenth century, Muhammad b. 'Ali b. Babiwayh, famously known as: [[al-Shaykh al-Saduq]]. This book is about [[Tawhid]] in its general sense (knowing about [[Allah]]) and comprises narrations about the unity of the Divine essence, affirmation and negation attitudes in understanding Divine attributes, attributes of essence and attributes of action and their relation to the Divine essence, eternity and temporality, predestination and divine providence, determinism and absolute freewill and the related topics.

[[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq|Ibn Babiwayh]] says that he had written this book to respond to the enemies or critics of [[Shi'a]], who accused Shi'a of believing in divine corporeality or predestination, and because of their propaganda, many would not join this sect. The root of such problem goes back to some of [[Ghulat]] who fabricated some narrations about divine corporeality and predestination. Such accusations were mainly made by [[Mu'tazila]]s of the time, like Khayyat who repeatedly mentions these allegations in his ''Intisar''. Sometimes even some Shi'a theologians criticized the [[theological school of Qom]], which was mainly founded on narrative basis in matters of [[theology]], with the fact that these bases would lead to the aforementioned problems. In early fourth century, [[Abu al-Hasan Ash'ari]] attributed to Shi'a the belief in [[Tajsim]] (divine corporeality)  and [[Tashbih]] (divine anthropomorphism) even the traditionalist and narrative-inclined  body of [[Sunni]]s that was remarkably involved in more excessive forms of belief in corporeality and predestination, accused Shi'a of exaggerations in affirming divine attributes and corporeality.

The title al-Tawhid in early centuries of [[Islam]], had been an indication of theological outlines and directions of different sects and schools; for the same reason, many theorists in different [[Islamic sects]] used such manifestos with the title: al-Tawhid, to introduce the teachings of their sect. some of such theorists are as follows: some figures among [[Khawarij]], some of [[Mu'tazila]]s, [[Hisham b. Hakam]] (the known pupil of [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] [[Hasan b. Musa al-Nawbakhti]] (Imami theologian in fourth/tenth century) and Hasan b. Salih b. Hay (from [[Zaydi]]s). Likewise, [[Hadith]] promoters from among [[Sunni]]s and [[Shi'a]], set forth particular books with the title: al-Tawhid to present their opinions based on verses of the Holy [[Qur'an]] and Narrations. Apart from ''[[al-Tawhid lil-Mufaddal]]'' -that is believed to be dictated by Imam al-Sadiq (a)- some individuals like: [[Ibn Abi al-Khattab]] (d.262) and [['Ali b. Husayn Babiwayh]] (d.329), the father of [[al-Shaykh al-Saduq]], have authored books about al-Tawhid.