The Book on Resurrection

Introduced and published by Faris O. Nofal

Abstract

The first published “The Book on Resurrection” (Kitāb al-maʻād) by ’Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ṣūrī is the most important treatise of Samaritan speculative theology of the 11th century, which served as the final formation of Samaritan eschatology. Marked by the influence of Muʻtazili kalam, the treatise appeals to the concept of Taklīf, which is typical for Muslim theology and ethics. According to the author, the eternal existence is a necessary condition for the functioning of the Law, which implies the temporary nature of a created act and the timeless nature of divine rewards and punishments. In addition to rationalistic argumentation, al-Ṣūrī also gives textual argumentation based on the interpretation of a number of Torah verses (Gen. 9:3–5; Ex. 20:6; Deut. 32). The text of Kitāb al-ma‘ād is reproduced by the publisher from a manuscript saved in the collection of the Bodleian Library (MS Huntington 350).