| Preface |
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vii | |
| Principal Abbreviations |
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xi | |
| Introduction |
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I The Problem of Theodicy |
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3 | (2) |
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II Optimism and Its Critics |
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5 | (11) |
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III Islamic Formulations of Theodicy |
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16 | (16) |
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One The Perfect Rightness of the Actual |
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32 | (3) |
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35 | (2) |
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III The Statement in Context |
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37 | (44) |
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38 | (3) |
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1 The Perfect Rightness of the Actual |
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41 | (3) |
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a The Divine Wisdom: The Natural Order |
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44 | (7) |
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b The Divine Wisdom: The Social Order |
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51 | (6) |
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c The Intrinsic Superiority of Existence |
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57 | (1) |
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d The Hiddenness of the World's Perfection |
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58 | (2) |
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60 | (4) |
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3 The Correlation of Perfect and Imperfect |
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64 | (5) |
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4 The Secret of Predestination |
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69 | (6) |
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B al-Ghazali's Own Commentary |
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75 | (6) |
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81 | (7) |
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V The Authenticity of the Ascription |
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88 | (4) |
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Two The Disputants and Their Works |
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92 | (5) |
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II Chronological List of Disputants |
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97 | (34) |
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98 | (5) |
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103 | (6) |
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109 | (3) |
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112 | (6) |
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118 | (4) |
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122 | (1) |
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122 | (4) |
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126 | (4) |
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130 | (1) |
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III The Prestige of al-Ghazali as a Factor in the Debate |
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131 | (4) |
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Three Divine Power and Possibility |
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I The Attack of al-Biqa'i |
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135 | (13) |
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A What God Could Have Done |
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137 | (2) |
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139 | (1) |
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C The Responses of al-Suyuti and al-Samhudi |
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140 | (3) |
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D The Basis of al-Biqa'i's Attack |
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143 | (5) |
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II The Problem of Omnipotence |
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148 | (12) |
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149 | (3) |
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B Omnipotence and Impossibility |
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152 | (8) |
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III The Attack of Ibn al-Munayyir |
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160 | (9) |
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A The Question of Incapacity |
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160 | (2) |
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162 | (1) |
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C Infinite Possibilities and Perfection |
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163 | (2) |
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165 | (4) |
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IV The Nature of Possibility |
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169 | (13) |
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173 | (2) |
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B The Meaning of imkan in the Disputed Statement |
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175 | (7) |
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Four Creation as "Natural Necessity" |
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I The Second Major Charge |
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182 | (3) |
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II The Doctrine of Natural Necessity |
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185 | (7) |
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192 | (4) |
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IV The Function of Wisdom |
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196 | (1) |
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V The Creation of the Imperfect |
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197 | (7) |
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VI The Objections of al-Sijilmasi al-Lamati |
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204 | (3) |
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VII al-Ghazali and the Philosophers |
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207 | (10) |
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Five The Problem of the Optimum |
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I The Charge of Mu'tazilism |
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217 | (2) |
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II Mu'tazilite Affinities and Parallels |
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219 | (13) |
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A The Perfect Rightness of the Actual |
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221 | (2) |
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B The Correlation of Perfect and Imperfect |
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223 | (3) |
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C The Wording of the Disputed Statement |
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226 | (1) |
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1 The Emphasis on Justice |
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226 | (4) |
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2 The terms "aslah" and "abda'" |
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230 | (2) |
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III Rational Good and Evil |
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232 | (5) |
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IV al-Ghazali and the Optimum |
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237 | (11) |
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V The Solution of al-Suyuti |
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248 | (3) |
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251 | (8) |
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A The True Nature of Mercy |
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253 | (1) |
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253 | (1) |
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C Suffering Occasions Gratitude |
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254 | (1) |
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D Apparent Evil, Real Good |
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255 | (2) |
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E Evil Occurs per accidents |
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257 | (2) |
| Conclusion |
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259 | (7) |
| Appendix. Types of Possibility |
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266 | (5) |
| Bibliography |
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271 | (26) |
| Index |
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297 | |
