Sharh al-'Alim wa-al-Muta'allim شرح العالم والمتعلم

Sharh al-'Alim wa-al-Muta'allim (شرح العالم والمتعلم) is a significant classical commentary on Islamic theology ('Aqidah) by the renowned Ash'ari theologian Imam Ibn Furak (d. 406 AH / 1015 CE). It explains the celebrated theological primer traditionally attributed to Imam Abu Hanifah, presented as a dialogue between a teacher and student.

The work explores foundational Sunni beliefs, including the nature of faith (Iman), the relationship between faith and deeds, divine decree (Qadar), the status of the grave sinner, and refutations of early theological sects such as the Kharijites, Murji'ah, and Qadariyyah. Drawing on his expertise in theology, Hadith, and Arabic, Ibn Furak clarifies and defends the text according to the principles of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama'ah.

Of particular historical importance, this commentary demonstrates the theological harmony between the early Hanafi tradition and the classical Ash'ari school, making it an invaluable resource for students and researchers of Islamic creed, Kalam, and the history of Sunni theology.

The Author

Abu Bakr Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Furak al-Ansar al-Isbahani (أبو بكر محمد بن الحسن بن فورك الأصبهاني) was a towering figure of the Sunni tradition, specifically within the Ash’ari school of theology and the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence. Ibn Furak was renowned for his mastery of Arabic grammar, theology, and Hadith, and he played a major role in organizing, systemizing, and defending the early Ash’ari creed in the eastern Islamic world (Khurasan and Nishapur). 

Because the early creed of Imam Abu Hanifah (often transmitted by his student Abu Muqatil al-Samarqandi) shared major core principles with what later became the Ash’ari and Maturidi theological schools, Ibn Furak utilizes his Ash’ari expertise to explain, defend, and contextualize Abu Hanifah’s statements. 

Historical and Academic Significance

This work is highly valued by historians of Islamic thought because it demonstrates how early theological texts were received, interpreted, and integrated by classical Ash’ari theologians. It highlights the deep-seated theological commonalities and mutual respect between the early Hanafi tradition and the Shafi’i-Ash’ari scholars of Nishapur.