Bulugh al-Ma'ali bi-Sharh Manzumah Bad' al-Amali بلوغ المعالي بشرح منظومة بدء الأمالي

Bulugh al-Ma’ali bi-Sharh Manzumah Bad’ al-Amali (بلوغ المعالي بشرح منظومة بدء الأمالي) is a highly esteemed contemporary commentary on one of the most famous classical poems in Sunni Islamic theology (Aqeedah). The original poem: Manzumah Bad’ al-Amali (بدء الأمالي) was written by Imam Siraj al-Din 'Ali bin 'Uthman al-Ushi al-Farghani (d. 569 AH / 1173 CE), a prominent classical Hanafi jurist and theologian. It is also widely known as Al-Qasidah al-Lamiyyah fi al-Tawhid (القصيدة اللامية في التوحيد) because every verse ends with the Arabic letter Lam (ل).

The poem is a concise, rhyming summary of orthodox Sunni creed, written specifically from the perspective of the Maturidi school of theology (which, alongside the Ash’ari school, constitutes the mainstream Sunni theological tradition). It covers fundamental beliefs, including the existence and attributes of Allah, Prophethood (Nubuwwah), the Companions (Sahabah) and the Caliphate, Eschatology (the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell), and the nature of faith (Iman) and its relation to actions.

The Author

Dr. Saif bin 'Ali al-'Asri (د. سيف بن علي العصري) is a contemporary Yemeni scholar specializing in Islamic creed, contemporary intellectual currents, and jurisprudence. He is known for his balanced, academically rigorous, and traditional approach to Sunni theology.

While classical commentaries on Bad’ al-Amali (such as those by Imam al-Qari or Imam al-Nik sari) can be linguistically dense, Dr. al-'Asri explains the concepts using modern, structured pedagogical language that is accessible to contemporary students without compromising academic depth. He contextualizes the verses of the poem, demonstrating how they align with the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations (Salaf).

While explaining classical theological concepts (such as Allah’s attributes, the creation of actions, and the vision of Allah in the Hereafter), Dr. al-'Asri addresses modern intellectual challenges and misconceptions surrounding these topics. 

Who Is This Book For?

For anyone wishing to study the Maturidi formulation of Sunni Aqeedah, Bulugh al-Ma’ali by Dr. Saif bin 'Ali al-'Asri (published by Dar al-Fath) is considered one of the finest modern resources available. It serves as an excellent intermediate textbook for students of Islamic theology.