Essai sur la pensée philosophique et théologique

de Shahrastânî (m. 548/1153)

par

Diane Steigerwald

Thèse de doctorat présentée à la Faculté des Études Supérieures et de Recherche

en vue de l'obtention du diplôme

de Doctorat ès-Lettres

© Diane Steigerwald, 1994

Tous droits de traduction, de reproduction et d'adaptation réservés

pour tous les pays par D. Steigerwald

Institut des Études Islamiques

Université McGill

Montréal, Canada

juin 1994

ABSTRACT

Author :: Diane Steigerwald

Title : Essay on the Philosophical and Theological Thought of Shahrastânî (d. 548/1153)

Departmeent : Institute of Islâmic Studies, McGill University

Degree :: Ph. D.

The aim of this dissertation is to analyse Shahrastânî's writings in order to show the richness and the originality of his philosophical and theological thought. His most influential work is his Kitâb al-Milal wa al-Nihal (The Books of Religions and Sects). Shahrastânî (479/1086-548/1153) was mostly recognized as an Ash‘arî theologian, an heresiographer and an historian of religions. But recently some scholars such as Muhammad Radî Jalâlî Nâ'înî, Muhammad Taqî Dânish-pazhûh, Wilferd Madelung and Guy Monnot put forward a new thesis concerning the Ismâ‘îlî identity of Shahrastânî. For this reason our thesis analyses thoroughly his work through three main axes : Ash‘arism, Avicennism and Ismâ‘îlism. This dissertation deals with four basic themes : Conception of God, Theories of Creation, Prophecy (Nubuwwa) and Imâma. We have studied mainly the Majlis by comparing it with his other works (Milal, Nihâya, Musâra‘a and Mafâtîh). In the course of our research, we find many discrepancies in his so called Ash‘arî thought and we point out the relevant aspects of his real convictions. We call attention to his numerous affinities with Ismâ‘îlism because Shahrastânî places the shî‘ite concept of Guide at the centre of religion. We show the importance and the originality of his contribution which presents a theology with philosophical background coloured by Ismâ‘îlism.