Mullā Ḳābıż & the Question of Prophetic Superiority

Abstract

Ibn Kamāl Pāshā (d. 940/1534) played a key role in defending key doctrinal positions in his capacity as Ottoman Shaykh al-Islām, the most famous of which is undoubtedly his refutation of Mullā Qābiḍ (d. 933/1527). Qābiḍ (tr. Kabız), whose credentials are as unknown as Ibn Kamāl’s are known, is said to have propagated the superiority of Jesus over Muhammad, an obscure notion rarely found in the intellectual history of Islam. His ideas were eventually brought to the attention of scholarly circles, leading to him being tried before the Imperial Council by Caliph Suleymān I (d. 973/1566). Noting the inability of some scholars to defend the orthodox position regarding the superiority of Muhammad, Suleymān I called upon Ibn Kamāl to provide a robust defence on behalf of the Empire. Although unable to respond to Ibn Kamāl’s reasoning, Qābiḍ nevertheless maintained his position and thus sealed his fate for good. Only a handful of studies have been carried out on Qābiḍ. This article intends to contribute to the discussion he and his trial have sparked by translating a key epistle written by Ibn Kamāl after the trial and entitled: Risāla fī ʾAfḍaliyyat Muḥammad. Knowing that the details of the controversy between him and Mullā Qābiḍ escape us, this treatise by Ibn Kamāl gives an insight into his thinking on prophetology and his implementation of scriptural, canonical and exegetical sources. It also provides a convenient overview of the exchange he probably had with Qābiḍ.