دليل الحدوث وإشكالاته عند القاضي عبد الجبار بن أحمد

الملخص

The argument of contingency (dalīl al-ḥudūth), employed by Islamic theologians (mutakallimūn) to prove the existence of God, has long been a subject of intense debate. This study examines the argument’s historical development, its philosophical and theological challenges, and how these were addressed by the prominent Mu‘tazilite scholar, al-Qadi Abd al-Jabbar (d. 415 AH). Through his writings, al-Qadi elaborated on the argument, participated in its discourse, and proposed responses to its objections.

The central research questions are: How was the argument of origination formulated in Islamic theology up to the time of al-Qadi Abd al-Jabbar? And what were his contributions in refining the argument and resolving its challenges?

The study is structured into two main sections. The first traces the historical evolution of the argument until al-Qadi’s time, while the second analyzes the critical objections raised against it, al-Qadi’s engagement with these issues, and his proposed solutions.

The term "challenges" in the study's title refers to the various objections posed against the argument, particularly those that arise when scrutinizing its premises and logical structure. These objections, if valid, could undermine the argument’s effectiveness as a proof of God’s existence.

Among the key findings of this study is that many philosophical issues were brought to light in the process of addressing these objections. Notably, these include the generalization of the world's origination through analogy between the seen and the unseen, the debate over the infinite regress of events, and the idea of God as a necessary cause for the world's existence.

Furthermore, the study highlights the influence of Mu‘tazilite doctrinal frameworks on al-Qadi Abd al-Jabbar’s responses. This is evident in positions such as his assertion that God is powerful by His essence while humans possess a created power, and his affirmation of divine choice without attributing to God an eternal will, among other theological arguments.