Classification of Religions by Al Shahristani an Analytical Study

This research paper presents the method used by Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Shahristani to categorize religions through his book “Al-Milal wa al-Nihal”, refering to the terminological indications that he used. Al-Shahristani used the terms Al-Milal wa al-Nihal to refer to specific meanings, and set a standard by which he differentiates between Al-Milal wa al-Nihal, which is the presence of a book that is inspired. The research paper concludes that the existence of the book was not the true criterion for classification, but rather it is a hierarchical factor within the classification, for the true standard of the methodology of Shahrastani, which indicates the intellectual background of Al-Shahristani who used the methodology while classifying religions is the attitude towards the prophecy and the existence of the book inspired by The only God. Therefore, we presented his position related to monotheism and prophecy, and hence this research paper is trying to explain the Shahristani inclusion of philosophers in his rankings as if they were from the religious groups. The study concluded by criticizing classification of Shahristani, such as its dependence on “Al Ifteraq” hadith, which resulted in some problems. Based upon that, this study is limited to the question of classification that Al-Shahristani used in his book “Al-Milal wa al-Nihal” excluding other topics and issues that he presented in this book, considering that we benefited from his book “Nihayat Al-Eqdam Fi Ilm Al-Kalam” especially when we searched for the intellectual background that influenced his classification of religions.