Abul-Qasim al-Hussein bin Mufaddal bin Muhammad, better known as Raghib aaghibIsfahani ( fa, ابوالقاسم حسین ابن محمّد الراغب الاصفهانی), was an eleventh-century Muslim scholar of

Qur'anic The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing. ...

exegesis Exegesis ( ; from the Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Biblical works. In modern usage, exegesis can involve critical interpretation ...

and the

Arabic language Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...

Biography

Al-Raghib Al-Isfahani - meaning "the Isfahanian monk" - was born in Isfahan as his name suggests, though his exact date of birth is not known.al-Raghib al-Isfahani

The Oxford Dictionary of Islam ''The Oxford Dictionary of Islam'' is a dictionary of Islam, published by the Oxford University Press, with John Esposito as editor-in-chief. Overview The dictionary contains over 2,000 entries on a wide range of Islamic related topics. Refere ...

. Ed.

Oliver Leaman Oliver Leaman (born 1950) is a professor of philosophy and Zantker Professor of Judaic studies at the University of Kentucky, where he has been teaching since 2000. He studies the history of Islamic, Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים ...

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, 2012. He died in the

Hijri year The Hijri year ( ar, سَنة هِجْريّة) or era ( ''at-taqwīm al-hijrī'') is the era used in the Islamic lunar calendar. It begins its count from the Islamic New Year in which Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Yathr ...

502, corresponding to 1108 on the

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...

. Al-Isfahani's theological stance seems to have been close to that of the

Ash'ari Ashʿarī theology or Ashʿarism (; ar, الأشعرية: ) is one of the main Sunnī schools of Islamic theology, founded by the Muslim scholar, Shāfiʿī jurist, reformer, and scholastic theologian Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ashʿarī in t ...

school. In one of his works entitled ''al-I'tiqadat'', Al-Isfahani attacks both the

Mu'tazila Muʿtazila ( ar, المعتزلة ', English: "Those Who Withdraw, or Stand Apart", and who called themselves ''Ahl al-ʿAdl wa al-Tawḥīd'', English: "Party of ivineJustice and Oneness f God); was an Islamic group that appeared in early Islami ...

and the Shi'a showing that questions about his adherence to either of these positions is groundless. Al-Isfahani was opposed to the emanationism of the Brethren of Purity, preferring creationism instead. The concept of justice, according to al-Isfahani's definition, is "equal retaliation" for wrongdoing.

Works

His work covered topics ranging from ethics to linguistics to Muslim philosophy. He authored a commentary on the Quran, ''Mufradāt alfāẓ al-Qurʾān''. One of his most famous works was Al-Mufradat fi Gharib al-Quran. As a man of letters, al-Isfahani was also well-versed in

Arabic literature Arabic literature ( ar, الأدب العربي / ALA-LC: ''al-Adab al-‘Arabī'') is the writing, both as prose and poetry, produced by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is '' Adab'', which is derived from ...

. His literary anthology, which was carefully organized by topic, carried much weight and respect in intellectual circles. He was also noted as an early Muslim writer on the topic of blending religious and philosophical ethics.Rita Sommers-Flanagan and John Sommers-Flanagan, ''Becoming an Ethical Helping Professional: Cultural and Philosophical Foundations'', pg. 38.

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, 2006.

References

Bibliography

THE ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY OF AL-RĀGHIB AL-ISFAHĀNĪ
Journal of Islamic Studies (1995) 6 (1): 51-75. Oxford Journals. {{DEFAULTSORT:Isfahani, Raghib Asharis Shafi'is Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam Quranic exegesis scholars Year of birth unknown 1100s deaths

Biography

Works

See also

References

Bibliography