Publisher's Synopsis
Abd al-Gabbar (d.1024 AD) belonged to the Bahsamiyya branch of the Basra Mutazila. The Mutazilites upheld the principle of divine justice, and from this perspective they attempted to explain the existence of pain and suffering.;This volume deals with Abd al-Gabbar's opinions on different aspects of pain, such as what pain is, how it is perceived, how it comes into existence, how to judge the infliction of pain and for which purpose God imposes suffering on His creatures. Attention is also given to opinions expressed by Mankdim and Ibn Mattawayh, disciples of Abd al-Gabbar. Included is a historical survey of the Bahsamiyya school. The book seeks to shed light on Abd al-Gabbar's Mutazilite method in dealing with the question of the existence of human suffering.
