Al-Masalik fi al-Khilafiyyat bayna al-Mutakallimin wa-al-Hukama' المسالك في الخلافيات بين المتكلمين والحكماء

Authored by the distinguished Ottoman scholar and critical theologian Imam Abdullah ibn Uthman ibn Musa, better known as Mastji-Zadeh (d. 1150 AH / 1737 CE), Kitab al-Masalik is one of the most significant classical works examining the theological and philosophical debates that shaped Islamic intellectual history. This important text is published here for the first time in a critically edited edition prepared by the late Dr. Sayyid Baghchewan, based on four valuable manuscripts, including a copy containing the author's own handwriting.

Unlike many works that focus solely on cataloging doctrinal disagreements, Kitab al-Masalik adopts a uniquely balanced and analytical approach. It systematically examines the major theological schools and intellectual traditions within Islam, presenting their positions with precision while identifying both their points of disagreement (khilafiyyat) and their areas of agreement (wifaqiyyat). This emphasis on shared principles alongside genuine differences distinguishes the work from most classical treatments of comparative theology.

Mastji-Zadeh writes not merely as a compiler but as an accomplished investigator and critical scholar. He carefully verifies the attribution of theological opinions, evaluates the arguments of competing schools, corrects common misconceptions, and exposes inconsistencies where they occur. His method combines meticulous documentation with thoughtful analysis, reflecting an exceptional command of Islamic theology (Kalam), philosophy (Hikmah), and the history of scholarly debate.

Regarded as Mastji-Zadeh's magnum opus, Kitab al-Masalik remains an indispensable resource for advanced students and researchers of Islamic theology, comparative creed, intellectual history, and the relationship between the theologians (Mutakallimun) and the philosophers (Hukama). This meticulously edited edition makes a long-unavailable masterpiece accessible to a new generation of scholars and serious students of Islamic thought.