Mu'min al-Ṭāq مؤمن الطّاق | |
|---|---|
| Died | 160 or 180Hijri 777 or 796 CE[1] |
| Notable work(s) | Kitab al-Imamah, Kitab al-radd 'ala' al-Mu'tazila fi imamat al-mafdul |
| Other names | Abū Ja'far |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Shia |
| Jurisprudence | Ja'fari |
| Muslim leader | |
| Disciple of | Ja'far al-Sadiq,Musa al-Kazim |
Influenced by
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| Part ofa series on Shia Islam |
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Abū Ja'far Muḥammad ibn 'Alī ibn Nu'mān al-Bajalī al-Kūfī (Arabic: أبو جعفر محمّد بن علي بن نعمان البجالي الكوفي), commonly known asMu'min al-Ṭāq (Arabic: مؤمن الطاق) was a distinguishedShia Muslimtheologian (mutakallim) and a companion ofJa'far al-Sadiq (732–765) andMusa al-Kazim (765–799), whose debates regardingImamate with other scholars are famous. He lived in the 2nd/8th century, and was from the tribe ofBajila fromKufa.[1]
He was known in thepolemic and debate circles of the time, and was reportedly renowned for providing incisive and thought-provoking responses to questions from his opponents, and was. In particular, he is famous for getting into a heated argument with the renowned scholar and juristAbu Hanifa, as well as debating and authoring a refutation of theMu'tazilites. He advocated forImamah and held that theImams are the ones with the absolute knowledge required to leadMuslims and humanity to felicity at its highest level. He wrote a number of works includingKitab al-Imama andKitab al-radd 'ala' al-Mu'tazila fi imamat al-mafdul.[1]
Muhammed ibn Ali ibn al-Nu'man'skunya wasAbu Ja'far.[2]His opponents nicknamed himShaytan al-Taq (Arabic:شيطان الطاق) (Satan of taq).[3] This is attributed, among other things, to the fact that he was amoney exchanger in a market in "Taq al-Mahamil" in Kufa, and due to his expertise to spot counterfeit money he earned the nickname. According to another source,Abu Hanifa was the first to call him by this nickname when he defeated theHaruriyya in a discussion. In contrast to Abu Hanifa, the Shias of Kufa gave him the nickname Mu'min al-Taq (lit. the true believer of the Gateway).[4][2]It is said that when he defeated Abu Hanifa in a debate, Abu Hanifa was the first one to call him "Shaytan al-Taq"[5] for the first time. And whenHisham ibn al-Hakam heard this, he was the first person who called him "Mu'min al-Taq".[6]
Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Nu'man al-Ahwal stood out among the Kufa speculative theologians who connected theImamate question to other fundamental scholastic problems. The heresiographers refer to his circle as AnNu'maniya, and he differentiated himself from the rest of Ja'far al-Sadiq's followers via his mastery of dialectics, his theological knowledge, and the sharpness of his rejoinders in debates with his opponents. Al-Ahwal, a fervent Shi'i, was initially one of the most dedicated followers of al-Baqir, whose claims he defended against Zayd.[7] Later, he developed a reputation as a renowned theologian and became a passionate supporter first of al-Sadiq[1] and then ofMusa al-Kazim.[7]
Al-Sadiq obliged Mu'min al-Taq to debate with the religious intellectuals of that day. In the meantime, he prohibited his companions from doing this due to lack of mastery in this field.[8]Al-Sadiq praised him saying: "The most lovable people, alive and dead, to me are:Burayd ibn Mu'awiya al-'Ijli,Zurarah ibn A'yun,Muhammad bin Muslim, and Abu Ja'far al-Ahwal (Mu'min al-Taq)."[8]
When al-Sadiq learned that this well-known follower was expressing differing viewpoints while participating in theological debates, he made the following statement:, "If I were to approve of and express satisfaction with the theological views which you (i.e., Mu'min al-Taq and his followers) express, I should be guilty of error (ḍalāl).On the other hand, it would be hard for me to dissociate from these views. After all, we are few and our enemies legion." Dissociation (bara'a),then, is a luxury which the Imams can ill afford, even if Mu'min al-Taq, Zurara, and their ilk deserve it in principle.[9][10]
According to somehadiths, he debatedZayd ibn Ali with regard to theImamate of al-Sadiq. Also his debates withAbu Hanifa, Ibn Abi Khidra, Dahhak Shadi fromKhawarij, Ibn Abi l-'Awja', and others are cited.
It is said that al-Dahhak, from theKharijites, went in revolt in Kufa and controlled it. Al-Dahhak headed their movements and called himself theCommander of the faithful. Mu'min al-Taq turned to him and said: "Surely I am a man with knowledge of my religion. I have heard that you describe justice, so I would like to enter (a debate) with you."Al-Dahhak was happy at that and regarded it as a victory for him, so he said to his companions:"Certainly, if this (Mu'min al-Taq) enter (a debate) with you, he will benefit you."Mu'min al-Taq approached al-Dahhak and asked him the following question:
Mu'min al-Taq found a way to criticize him and to abolish his beliefs, saying to him:
Mu'min al-Taq came near to the Kharijites and showed them the mistakes of their leader, saying to them: "Surely, your leader has appointed someone as an arbitrator in respect with Allah's religion; then that is up to you!"The Kharijites attacked al-Dahhak and cut him into pieces with their own swords.[11]