الوصف
Abstract: Undoubtedly, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī holds a significant epistemological and historical standing in the evolution of Ashʿarism and the subsequent crystallization of its doctrinal nuances. However, the assessment of his impact deserves scrutiny when contextualized within the discourse surrounding Ashʿarism in the Islamic West post-seventh century/thirteenth century, and within the broader narrative concerning the trajectory of theological thought in both Eastern and Western spheres following this temporal demarcation. In the Islamic West, the reception of al-Rāzī’s ideas and, by extension, the methodologies of subsequent scholars, predate the year 644/1246. The ensuing interactions encompass a spectrum ranging from comprehensive assimilation and active participation in furthering the doctrinal trajectories of later scholars to pronounced reservations, which have yielded variegated interpretations of al-Rāzī’s viewpoints within singular texts.
While the reception of al-Rāzī’s doctrines in the Islamic East has garnered considerable scholarly attention, investigations into their reception in the Islamic West remain rare. This lacuna persists owing to the lack of ongoing efforts of publication and dissemination of foundational materials requisite for a comprehensive analysis of this reception. Neither the corpus of oral traditions nor the biographical records dating from this period have undergone complete publication, something significantly impeding the formation of a lucid portrayal of the manifestations of this reception. Consequently, this study assumes a piecemeal and sectoral character, endeavoring to delineate the nascent stages of Al-Razi’s influence in the Islamic West and the modalities through which Maghribi intellectuals engaged with his corpus and ideas. Central to this endeavor are biographical compilations, travelogues, and primary textual sources. The dual nature of these sources necessitates a hybrid approach to this study: the initial section entails an analysis of historical narratives to trace al-Rāzī’s ingress into the Maghreb, while the subsequent section scrutinizes select verbal compositions from Maghribi intellectuals to elucidate their interactions with al-Rāzī’s intellectual legacy.
Key-words: Ṭarīqat al-Mutaʾakhkhirīn, ṭarīqat al-Mutaqaddimīn, Ashāʿirite Theology in The Islamic West, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Ashāʿirite Theologian of The Islamic West, Ibn Bazīza, al-Yafrinī, Ibn ʿArafa, al-Sanūsī.