The Book of Naqd and Religious Moderateness

Reza Babaie [1]

The present article deals with some of the phrases found in the book of Naqd which clearly reveal the author's religious moderateness and disciplined thought. First, it is discussed that this moderateness observed in the book is not a pretense. The scholar author of Naqd, strongly supports all of the principles of the Twelver Shiism; at the same time he does not consider the instructions prevalent at his age, the number of which increased in the following centuries, as the principles and details of the denomination. He considers Hashwiyyah and Ghulat (extremists) as the major trends to be reproached because of heresies. Although Naqd is a book in rejection of another book written against Shiites at 'Abd ol-Jalil's time, it does not ignore the ideas of the extremists (Hashwiyyah and Ghulat) in its criticism. Besides the explicit references made by 'Abd al-Jalil at various parts of the book, his method in the criticism of the book of Ba’d Fada’ih al-Rawafid clearly shows his moderate approach, through which he obviously expresses his respect to all of the great characters of the Islamic denominations and sects. At the final part of the present article, a number of the samples of his moderate standpoints concerning the companions and caliphs have been presented.

Key Words: proximity, religious moderateness, heresy, companions, caliphs, Naqz.

[1] Teacher and researcher in seminary schools and Universities.