Dawud ibn Marwan al-Muqamis: His Method and Sources in the Study of Jewish Theology

This research, titled "Dāwūd Ibn Marwān Al-Muqammiṣ: His Methodology and Sources in the Study of Jewish Theology", highlights the personal themes of Dāwūd Ibn Marwān Al-Muqammiṣ, who belonged to the early generation in the history of Judeo-Arabic philosophy and contributed to its rational formation during the 9th century CE. It explores the connection between this philosophical movement and the history of Islamic philosophy, reflecting the momentum of cultural interaction and the existence of a common ground for dialogue and communication.
To provide insight into the dialectical method and the contents of Islamic theology (kalam), its structure, and the extent to which Muʿtazilite thought was integrated into his work, Al-Muqammiṣ authored his principal book, "Twenty Chapters- Ishrūn Maqāla", as a rational analysis of God, the world, and humanity—the three central themes cherished by philosophers.
In an effort to reclaim a part of Arab-Islamic heritage that demonstrates the practice of rational inquiry, this research employs a descriptive-analytical methodology to analyze the responses and criticisms articulated by "the other theologian" (Al-Muqammiṣ) on issues such as proving the temporal creation of the world through substances and accidents, rejecting the application of categories of quality and quantity to the Divine Essence, and addressing human agency, discernment, and the rejection of predestination.
In light of the research problem related to fundamental questions about its intellectual tributaries, its approach to religious argumentation and responding to others, the researcher monitored a number of responses to these questions, which were regularly represented in his approach based on “critical ability, presenting the question to silence the opponent, requesting proof, then comparison, questioning, defining words, and finally what is related to confinement and invalidation, probing and division, as a type of mental division.”
Since Al-Muqammiṣ was aware of the importance of establishing a rational understanding of Judaism, and the challenges imposed by environmental circumstances, he drew rational weapons from the Mu'tazila's theses, and did not deviate from their concepts in the discussions of justice, and in opposing the determinists, the anthropomorphists, those who deny accidents, prophecies, and those who deny truths.