Alhamdulillah, we are pleased to carry Ibn Taymiyyah on Creation ex Materia (The Act of Creation) — the second volume in an important and growing series of English translations drawn from the theological works of Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullah, published by Dar Al-Arqam. This is a book the English-speaking Muslim community has needed, and we are glad to have it on our shelves.
For students of aqeedah, seekers of knowledge, and anyone who wants to understand how Islam addresses the most fundamental questions of existence, this book is a serious and rewarding read.
What Is This Book About?
The question of creation — specifically, how Allah created, what it means for Him to be Al-Khaliq, and how that stands against the claims of philosophers and other religions — is one of the most important questions in Islamic theology.
Ex materia refers to the Greek philosophical position that creation emerged from pre-existing eternal matter, a view that directly contradicts the Islamic belief that Allah is the sole originator of all things from nothing. This book presents Ibn Taymiyyah's systematic and rational response to that position, demonstrating that the Islamic understanding of creation is not only correct scripturally but is the most coherent and defensible position on rational grounds as well.
Allah, the Most High, says:
"He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth." (Sūrah Al-Anʿām, 6:101)
And He says:
"Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne." (Sūrah Al-Aʿrāf, 7:54)
Ibn Taymiyyah's approach — as always — is to take the positions of his opponents seriously, engage their arguments on their own terms, and then dismantle them through reason and revelation together. That is what makes this work so valuable for the student of knowledge today.
About the Series
This is the second volume in an envisioned series of translations from Ibn Taymiyyah's theological works covering topics such as:
- The evidences of Allah's perfection
- The signs of Prophethood
- The meaning of divine creative agency
- The compatibility of divine predestination with human moral responsibility
The series is specifically designed for the English-speaking Muslim world — making the depth and rigor of Ibn Taymiyyah's scholarship accessible without watering it down. If you have not yet read the first volume, Ibn Taymiyyah on the Oneness of God, we carry that as well and recommend starting there.
Who Is This Book For?
This book is a strong recommendation for:
- Students of aqeedah — whether studying formally or on your own, this book will sharpen your understanding of Allah's creative agency and what it means for Him to be Al-Khaliq and Al-Badīʿ.
- Those who engage in dawah — particularly with atheists, agnostics, or those influenced by materialist philosophy. Ibn Taymiyyah provides a robust rational framework rooted entirely in revelation.
- Readers of Islamic intellectual history — the debates around creation, matter, and divine agency are central to classical Islamic theology. This book is a key vantage point for understanding those debates.
- Anyone who has benefited from the first volume in this series and wants to continue building their understanding of Ibn Taymiyyah's theological contributions.
About Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥalīm ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH) was born in Ḥarrān and raised in Damascus. He was one of the greatest scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah, a staunch defender of the methodology of the Salaf, and an uncompromising advocate for returning to the Quran and authentic Sunnah in all matters of aqeedah and fiqh. His works span theology, jurisprudence, tafsir, and systematic refutations of philosophical and theological deviance. Centuries after his death, his scholarship remains among the most relevant and powerful in the Islamic tradition.
Imam adh-Dhahabi, rahimahullah, described him as an ocean of knowledge that had no shore.
Get Your Copy
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever follows a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make a path to Paradise easy for him." (Sahih Muslim)
Only a limited number of copies are in stock. Order your copy of Ibn Taymiyyah on Creation ex Materia here — $31.00
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Baarakallahu feekum — The Islamic Book Cafe | Portland, Oregon
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