Was al-Alusi Salafi in creed?

هل كان الألوسي سلفي العقيدة؟

Al-Zirikli calls him 'Salafi in belief, a mujtahid'; a recent doctoral thesis concludes that he was Salafi in creed on the whole while pausing over him on some points, quoting his words that the safest course is to leave figurative reinterpretation except where the early generations reinterpreted; his biography also records that he took the Naqshbandi path from Khalid al-Naqshbandi and studied the question of the attributes with him.

Summary

Much has been said about the creed of Mahmud al-Alusi, author of Ruh al-Ma'ani, because he read so widely in Islamic books of every school, as the thesis Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya notes. ¹ This entry sets out his words on reinterpretation, al-Zirikli's description of him and the thesis's conclusion, without a verdict.

In his own words

The thesis quotes Ruh al-Ma'ani: the safest course is to leave reinterpretation, because it is speaking about God without knowledge; he reinterprets only what the early generations reinterpreted — if they reinterpreted, he does, and if they consigned the meaning to God, he does; everything that comes from the Messenger of God ﷺ with an acceptable chain he accepts wholeheartedly, and what goes against that he casts aside even if the ignorant accept it; and "if the hadith is sound, it is my school". ²

His link to the Naqshbandi path

The thesis's biography records that he read the question of the attributes with Diya' al-Din Khalid al-Naqshbandi and took the Naqshbandi path from him. ³

The thesis's conclusion

The thesis opens the question with a warning about the gravity of judging Muslims', and especially scholars', beliefs, insisting on reading their words in the best light and not holding them to the implications of what they said; it then states that al-Alusi was "Salafi in creed on the whole", quotes Ibn Taymiyya, al-Dhahabi and Ibn al-Qayyim on dealing with scholars who combined error and right, and pauses with him on some questions of creed. ⁴ ⁵ ¹ ⁶ ²

Disagreement and views

Opinions on the question

The question: Al-Alusi's creed

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame) · Sunni: al-Alusi on himselfMain reference

the safest is to leave reinterpretation; he follows the early generations in reinterpreting or consigning; "if the hadith is sound, it is my school" ².

More opinions (3)

Sunni tradition (the museum's frame) · Sunni: al-ZirikliMain reference

"Salafi in belief, a mujtahid" ⁷.

Academic: the thesis Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya viewSecondary opinion

Salafi in creed on the whole, with reservations on some points and with his Naqshbandi link noted ¹ ² ³.

Not yet given here viewOther opinion

studies that place him with the Ash'aris or Maturidis, or that stress the Sufi side of his allusive (ishari) exegesis, have not yet been added; later books will supply them.

Sources

Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya: al-Alusi's work in rhetoric through Ruh al-Ma'ani — doctoral thesis in rhetoric and criticism (supervisor Dr Muhammad al-Hasan Ali al-Amin, 2008–2009) , p.54

Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya: al-Alusi's work in rhetoric through Ruh al-Ma'ani — doctoral thesis in rhetoric and criticism (supervisor Dr Muhammad al-Hasan Ali al-Amin, 2008–2009) , p.56

Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya: al-Alusi's work in rhetoric through Ruh al-Ma'ani — doctoral thesis in rhetoric and criticism (supervisor Dr Muhammad al-Hasan Ali al-Amin, 2008–2009) , p.30

Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya: al-Alusi's work in rhetoric through Ruh al-Ma'ani — doctoral thesis in rhetoric and criticism (supervisor Dr Muhammad al-Hasan Ali al-Amin, 2008–2009) , p.52

Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya: al-Alusi's work in rhetoric through Ruh al-Ma'ani — doctoral thesis in rhetoric and criticism (supervisor Dr Muhammad al-Hasan Ali al-Amin, 2008–2009) , p.53

Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya: al-Alusi's work in rhetoric through Ruh al-Ma'ani — doctoral thesis in rhetoric and criticism (supervisor Dr Muhammad al-Hasan Ali al-Amin, 2008–2009) , p.55

Juhud al-Alusi al-Balaghiyya: al-Alusi's work in rhetoric through Ruh al-Ma'ani — doctoral thesis in rhetoric and criticism (supervisor Dr Muhammad al-Hasan Ali al-Amin, 2008–2009) , p.44