Al-Mahajja al-bayda? fi usul al-din

From the time of its foundation in 284/897, the Zaydi Imamate of Yemen was home to Mu?tazili ideas. During the first centuries and starting with Imam al-Hadi ila 'l-Haqq (d. 298/911), Zaydi ideology included elements akin to the opinions of the Baghdad School of the Mu?tazila as founded by Bishr b. al-Mu?tamir (d. 210/825). However, in the 5-6th/11-12th centuries, we see a rise in popularity of Bahshamiyya ideas, a sub-group of the Basran School of the Mu?tazila around Abu Hashim al-Jubba?i (d. 321/933). These ideas were systematized and elaborated upon by the Zaydi theologian al-Rassas (d. 584/1188). Among those who resisted Bahshami ideas to defend the teachings of the earlier imams was the jurist, theologian and author of more than 100 works, Husam al-Din al-?Ansi (d. 667/1268). This volume contains a facsimile of the largest copy of al-Mahajja al-bayda? fi usul al-din, al-?Ansi's major theological handbook, covering the first four parts out of eight.