Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin (The Discourses of the Proponents of Islam and the Differences Among the Worshippers) is a foundational work of early Islamic heresiography and theology written by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari.
While a complete English translation of this extensive Arabic work is not currently available in a single, widely published PDF, several high-quality resources provide large sections, summaries, or the original Arabic text for study. Key Resources for Maqalat al-Islamiyyin
Original Arabic PDF: The full text in its original language is available for download at the Internet Archive. This is the most reliable way to access the complete work.
Sectional English Summaries: Brief summaries of its contents and theological impact are included in academic surveys like A History of Muslim Philosophy.
Academic Theses: In-depth analysis and translations of specific chapters (such as those concerning human action or the nature of God) can be found in doctoral works, such as this Enlighten Thesis from the University of Glasgow.
Related Works in English: If you are looking for Al-Ash'ari's final theological positions in English, his work Al-Ibanah 'an Usul ad-Diyanah (The Elucidation of Islam's Foundation) has been translated and is often available as a PDF download. Content Overview
The book is divided into three primary sections that record the intellectual trends of the Islamic world up to the 3rd Century AH:
Al-Maqalat: A historical survey of various Islamic sects (Shi'ites, Kharijites, Mu'tazilites, etc.) and their specific ideologies.
Daqiq al-Kalam: Focuses on "accurate speech" regarding natural science, causation, and the nature of the world. maqalat al-islamiyyin english pdf
Al-Asma' was-Sifat: A detailed section on the Names and Attributes of Allah. Maqalat al-Islamiyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin - SifatuSafwa
While a complete, authorized English translation of Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin
(Theological Opinions of the Muslims) in PDF form is difficult to find due to its immense size and complexity, several scholarly resources provide detailed English summaries and excerpts. The original work by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari
(d. 936 CE) is widely available in its original Arabic on the Internet Archive Overview of Maqalat al-Islamiyyin
The text is a monumental survey of early Islamic theological sects and remains one of the most important sources for the history of (Islamic scholastic theology).
: It is traditionally divided into two or three primary sections: Jalil al-Kalam
: Focuses on major theological issues like divinity and divine attributes. Daqiq al-Kalam
: Deals with "subtle" matters of physics and atoms (substances and accidents). Al-Asma' wa-al-Sifat : A discussion of the names and attributes of God. Methodology Why a Complete English "Maqalat" is a Necessary
: Al-Ash'ari is noted for his relatively impartial approach, often listing the views of various groups—such as the Mu'tazila, Shi'a, and Kharijites—without immediate polemical criticism. Where to Find English Content (PDF & Online)
Because a full English PDF is rare, scholars often rely on these specific English-language resources for insight:
A Footnote to the Composition History of Maqālāt al-islāmiyyīn
This is a guide to locating and understanding the English translation of Maqālāt al-Islāmiyyīn wa Ikhtilāf al-Muṣallīn (مقالات الإسلاميين واختلاف المصلين) by Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ashʿarī (d. 935 CE).
The absence of a full English translation of Maqalat al-Islamiyyin is a massive lacuna in Islamic studies. While Ibn Hazm’s al-Fasl and al-Shahrastani’s al-Milal wa al-Nihal are fully translated, the Maqalat remains locked behind a language barrier. Why?
However, with the rise of AI-assisted translation and digital print-on-demand, we may see a crowdsourced or academic complete English PDF emerge within the next decade. Until then, the combination of Klein’s partial translation + the Arabic PDFs + modern scholarly summaries remains the only route for English-only readers.
If you need the content in English for academic work, here’s the gold-standard method:
If you are searching for "Maqalat al-Islamiyyin English PDF," consider the following strategy: Linguistic Density: Al-Ash‘ari writes in dense, early 4th
If you are an academic using a scanned PDF (either the Arabic original or Klein’s partial translation), you must cite responsibly. MLA guidelines for a digitized primary source would look like this:
For Klein’s translation (PDF from archive.org):
Al-Ash‘ari, Abu al-Hasan. Maqalat al-Islamiyyin: The Articles of the Islamicans. Translated by Walter C. Klein, American Oriental Society, 1940. Archive.org, [URL]. Accessed [date].
For the Arabic PDF:
Al-Ash‘ari, Abu al-Hasan. Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin. Edited by Muhammad Muhyi al-Din Abd al-Hamid, Maktabat al-Nahdah, 1969. Shamela.ws, [URL].
Searching “Maqalat al-Islamiyyin English PDF” will lead you to sites claiming to have it. In 99% of cases:
For advanced researchers, the best "English" tool is actually an Arabic PDF (like the 1969 edition) used alongside a lexicon. You will find many high-quality scans of the original Arabic on platforms like Shamela.ws or Al-Maktaba al-Shamela. When searching, try "مقالات الإسلاميين pdf" to get the primary source, then use Google Translate or ChatGPT for rapid parsing of specific paragraphs.
