Jahm bin Safwan
Encyclopedia
Jahm ibn Safwān was a controversial Islamic theologian who attached himself to Hārith b. Surayj, a rebel in Khurasan
towards the end of the Umayyad period, and who was put to death in 128/745-6 by Salim b. Ahwaz.
, but settled down in Khurasān in Tirmidh. His birthyear is unknown, but he probably was born in the first century (hijrah). He learned under al-Ja'd b. Dirham, a sectarian from Harran
in Syria. al-Ja'd b. Dirham was a teacher of the last Umayyad Caliph, Marwan II
, and is described as a Dahrî and Zindîq. He was the first Muslim who spoke about the createdness of the Qur'ân, the denial of Abraham's friendship to God and Moses' speaking to Him. From al-Ja'd Jahm b. Safwān inherited some sectarian doctrines and would become the founder of the Jahmiyyah (see: Jahmites).
wrote refutations of Jahm bin Safwan's doctrines, particularly Ahmad ibn Hanbal
, al-Bukhari, and al-Darimi
. The latter also wrote a large refutation of a prominent Jahmite by the name of Bishr b. Ghiyāt al-Mārisî wherein he declared him a Kafir
(an unbeliever).
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
towards the end of the Umayyad period, and who was put to death in 128/745-6 by Salim b. Ahwaz.
Biography
He was born in KufahKufah
Kufah may refer to:* Ovophis okinavensis, a.k.a. the Okinawa pitviper, a venomous pitviper species found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.* Alternative English spelling for Kufa, a city in modern Iraq....
, but settled down in Khurasān in Tirmidh. His birthyear is unknown, but he probably was born in the first century (hijrah). He learned under al-Ja'd b. Dirham, a sectarian from Harran
Harran
Harran was a major ancient city in Upper Mesopotamia whose site is near the modern village of Altınbaşak, Turkey, 24 miles southeast of Şanlıurfa...
in Syria. al-Ja'd b. Dirham was a teacher of the last Umayyad Caliph, Marwan II
Marwan II
Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was killed. He was the last Umayyad ruler to rule from Damascus.In A.H. 114 Caliph Hisham appointed Marwan governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In A.H...
, and is described as a Dahrî and Zindîq. He was the first Muslim who spoke about the createdness of the Qur'ân, the denial of Abraham's friendship to God and Moses' speaking to Him. From al-Ja'd Jahm b. Safwān inherited some sectarian doctrines and would become the founder of the Jahmiyyah (see: Jahmites).
Teachings
Jahm was the first major propagator of the createdness of the Qur'ān. He believed that the Speech of God is created, since all attributes that are ascribed to God and which are shared by the creation are created too. There can be no sharing in name or attribute, according to Jahm, for that would necessitate assimilation (al-tashbîh). He therefore denied each and every attribute mentioned in the scriptures, for fear of anthropomorphism. The only attributes he accepted and described God with were two: creating and power. He believed that creating is the sole attribute that belongs properly to God and power too; all power witnessed among the creatures is metaphorically theirs, not literally. This last belief lead him to the doctrine of fatalism, called al-jabr (compulsion) for which they are called al-Mujbira. He based his theology upon a philosophical thinking he borrowed from non-Arabs particularly, the early Greek philosophers.Heritage
Jahm's doctrines about God and His Attributes found a lot of adherence among the Mu'tazilah, who were named Jahmites by their adversaries. The Mu'tazilah are known because of their belief that the Qur'ān is created, a tenet wherein they imitated Jahm in. They would also become known as deniers of God's Attributes in contradistinction of the affirmers from among the Ash'arites and others.Criticism
Jahm b. Safwān was heavily criticized and declared an unbeliever by orthodox Muslims. Early on, many scholars of HadithHadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
wrote refutations of Jahm bin Safwan's doctrines, particularly Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal Abu `Abd Allah al-Shaybani was an important Muslim scholar and theologian. He is considered the founder of the Hanbali school of fiqh...
, al-Bukhari, and al-Darimi
Al-Darimi
- Name & Lineage :Abu Muhammad Abdullah Bin Abdur Rahman Bin Fadhl Bin Bahraan Bin Abdus Samad At Tamimi Ad Darimi As Samarqandi,commonly known as Imam Darimi, came from the family tribe of Banu Darim Bin Maalik Bin Hanzalah Bin Zaid Bin Manah Bin Tamim...
. The latter also wrote a large refutation of a prominent Jahmite by the name of Bishr b. Ghiyāt al-Mārisî wherein he declared him a Kafir
Kafir
Kafir is an Arabic term used in a Islamic doctrinal sense, usually translated as "unbeliever" or "disbeliever"...
(an unbeliever).
See also
Jahm left no writings, but many Muslim scholars of the past wrote about his doctrines and a few modern scholars wrote studies of him. For Internet resources about him and his doctrines:- Ahmad ibn HanbalAhmad ibn HanbalAhmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal Abu `Abd Allah al-Shaybani was an important Muslim scholar and theologian. He is considered the founder of the Hanbali school of fiqh...
- Hanābilites