OPPORTUNITY OF FREEDOM OF THOUGHT IN HADITH SCHOLARS IN HEGIRA VI CENTURY-EXAMPLE OF OPPRESSIONS SUFFERED BY ABD AL-GHANI AL-MAQDISI (D.600/1203)

Abstract

Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi, one of the most prominent Hanbali hadith scholars of Hegira VI century, was exposed to several oppressions due to various reasons. The main reason why he experienced such oppressions was intolerance to the thoughts he adopted. With his strict character, Abd al-Ghani al Maqdisi severely reacted to unbelievers, and did not step back at defending his salafî belief in any case that he adopted despite very harsh reactions. The first oppression that he lived was with Ash’arites in Isfahan when he established a rihle (a travel in search of hadith) to obtain a hadith. Another oppression, which put Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi into trouble, stemmed from polemics he lived with Hanafis in Mosul. The fact that Abd al-Ghani lectured from the work called ad-Dafau’l-Kabîr by Uqaylî, in which Uqaylî described Abu Hanifa with rather humiliating words, provoked Abu Hanifa’s supporters; and he was demanded to be executed. Of his last oppressions, the first one happened in Damascus, and the second one happened in Egypt, which was caused by the Ash’arites owing to his approaches related with the faith. Abd al-Ghani, who experienced arguments about beliefs with Ash’arites and was accused of being impiety due to his views, was free from this oppressive life only after he deceased. In this study, the reasons why Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi was exposed to such oppressions were emphasised and the projections of his thoughts he adopted during this troublesome period were put forward.