Ahmad al-Mar’ashi al-Debbâghi’s Risalat Named Hashiye al-Aqâid al-Nesefiyya:Review and Transcription

Abstract

In the early periods of Islamic history, following the death of the Prophet, various political, theological, jurisprudential, and social debates emerged among Muslims. The differences of opinion that emerged as a result of these debates laid the groundwork for the formation of different schools of thought and sects in Islamic society. Along with fundamental issues such as faith-disbelief, prophethood, imamate, human freedom, and destiny, the status of those who commit major sins and the forgiveness of sins also became one of the important topics of discussion. In the historical background of these debates, events that occurred during the last period of Osman's caliphate and subsequent events such as the Battles of Jamal and Siffin during Ali's period, which brought Muslims into confrontation with each other, were influential. In these wars where both sides were Muslim, many lives were lost, and since killing a Muslim was considered a major sin, this led to questioning the religious status of those who died and those who killed in these wars. The issue of major sins constitutes one of the fundamental points of divergence between different schools of thought. This topic, which is directly related to the understanding of faith among different schools, has been interpreted differently based on how faith is conceptualized. The issue of major sins, discussed under the heading of "murtakib al-kabira" in theological works, has maintained its relevance throughout history and gained an important place in Islamic intellectual tradition. Ahmed al- Mar'ashī (d. 1752), an 18th-century Ottoman scholar, addressed this issue in his treatise " Hashiye al-Aqā'id al-Nesefiyya," examining in detail the debates and differences of opinion, particularly between the Mu'tazilites and Ahl al-Sunnah. Mar'ashī's treatise focuses especially on the conditions under which minor sins can be forgiven and comparatively examines the sectarian approaches to this matter. This study both provides information about Mar'ashi's life and works and presents an analysis and critical edition of his work " Hashiye al-Aqā'id al-Nesefiyya." The article first provides information about the author's life, scholarly personality, and works, then examines the manuscript copies of the work in question, its attribution to the author, and its content. Additionally, the fundamental issues addressed in the work, especially the debates concerning the forgiveness of sins, are evaluated in the context of their place within the theological literature of the period. The main purpose of the study is to reveal how the issue of the forgiveness of sins, which holds an important place in classical theological literature, was interpreted in 18th-century Ottoman intellectual tradition and to evaluate Mar'ashi's original contributions to this topic. In this context, the article aims both to contribute to Ottoman-era theological thought and to bring to light the views of an important scholar of the period. The published treatise is also an important source for understanding the nature of theological debates between the Mu'tazilites and Ahl al-Sunnah and the evidence on which the views of both schools are based. Mar'ashī's work is also notable in terms of reflecting the scholarly atmosphere of the period and showing the Ottoman ulama's approach to theological issues. The examination and evaluation of the treatise will contribute to a better understanding of the 18th-century Ottoman intellectual world while also allowing us to see the echoes of important debates in Islamic intellectual history during the Ottoman period. The work's methodological approach, use of sources, and methods of reasoning also provide important clues for understanding the scholarly style and discussion methods of the period. Mar'ashī's manner of utilizing works by important scholars such as Taftazanī, Hayalī, and Isam al-Din al-Isfarayinī is also noteworthy in terms of showing continuity and change in Ottoman scholarly tradition. With this study, a better understanding of Mar'ashi's intellectual world may lead to the discovery of his other works. Additionally, the work's historical perspective on the issue of major sins and the forgiveness of sins, which continues to be debated today, and its systematic treatment of different approaches to this topic, will also shed light on modern theological studies. Thus, it will make an important contribution to both classical theological literature and Ottoman intellectual heritage.