UNITY

Imam Shatibi’s introduction to Al-I’tisam, his magnificent work on Sunnah and Bid’ah or the importance of holding fast to the authentic way of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in order to attain optimum spirituality and not corrupting it with practices that become an obstacle to true spirituality.  The book includes a powerful refutation of Imam ‘Izz al-Din b. ‘Abd al-Salam’s categorisation of bid’ah into the five categories of wajib, mandub, mubah, makruh and haram.  Al-I’tisam deserves a good translation – any volunteers?

Imam Shatibi – Introduction to the Book of Holding Fast to the Way of the Prophet