From the translator's preface:
This book is the first in an envisioned series of translations from 1bn
Taymiyyah's theological works that cover a wide range of topics from the
evidences of God's perfection to the signs of Prophethood, and from the
meaning of God's creative agency to the compatibility of divine predestination
with human moral agency. The series aims to provide readers from the
English-speaking world access to Ibn Taymiyyah's articulations of these
important matters of the Faith in an effort to demonstrate the superior
rationality embodied in Islamic Faith over the conflicting claims of rationality
offered by other religions, philosophies and theological positions.
It is my estimation that such an English series is much needed nowadays,
especially in response to current challenges posed by growing trends of
atheism.Ibn Taymiyyah's exceptional insight and distinguished explanations
of Qura'nic arguments have helped many Muslims remain intellectually
satisfied in the face of doubts and challenges presented by competing world
views.[...]
In Sharh al-Asfahāniyyah,Ibn Taymiyyah criticizes the theology of al-Asfahāni
and other Kalam theologians and disagrees with many of their key arguments
by which they sought to demonstrate the main tenets of Islamic creed. He
dedicates an entire chapter to pointing out errors in the Argument from
Composition, an argument adopted from Avicennian philosophy to prove the
Oneness of God. Ibn Taymiyyah goes on to provide alternative rational
arguments for God's Oneness from the Qur'ān, giving a lengthy explanation of
two specific arguments from chapter al-Mu'minūn.
