Theological Critiques in the Commentaries on Mishkat al-Masabih by al-Khatib al-Tabrizi: A Critical Study of Selected Examples in Light of Salaf Creed

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the main theological critiques found in commentaries on al-Khatib al-Tabrizi’s Mishkat al-Masabih, and to present and critically examine them in light of the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah. To achieve this objective, the researcher adopted the inductive, analytical, and critical approach, selecting examples from the chapters on faith, divine decree, and the signs of the Hour. The study reached several findings, including that some commentators used expressions that may suggest the doctrine of the Murji'ah in defining faith, while others tended toward expressions associated with predestinationist determinism in discussing divine decree. The study also revealed differences among the commentaries on Mishkat al-Masabih in terms of scholarly rigor. It found that al-Tibi’s al-Kashif ‘an Haqa’iq al-Sunan is among the most precise and comprehensive commentaries and that many later commentators benefited from it. The study recommends that students of Islamic knowledge pay greater attention to the theological evaluation of commentaries, clarify the correct position with supporting evidence, undertake new critical editions of commentaries that have not received adequate scholarly attention, and establish collaborative projects to revive the heritage of Hadith commentaries under the supervision of specialists.