A Landmark Contribution to Islamic Theology

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Celebrating the Scholarship of Our Founding Dean, Dr Badreldeen Ismail

We are honoured to mark a moment of profound significance in the academic life of The Classical Institute.

A major scholarly monograph authored by our Founding Dean, Dr Badreldeen Ismail, has been published by De Gruyter–Brill, one of the world’s most esteemed academic publishers. Titled Al-Qushayri’s Teleological Theology: Recasting Ashʿarism and the Sufi Tradition, this work represents a landmark contribution to Islamic theology and intellectual history.

Though widely remembered for his Sufi legacy, Abu al-Qāsim al-Qushayrī (d. 465/1072) is here revisited in his full theological depth. Drawing on three core texts - al-Lumaʿ fī al-iʿtiqād, al-Fuṣūl fī al-uṣūl, and al-Risāla - Dr Ismail’s study brings Qushayri’s theological voice to the forefront. Through rigorous analysis, the monograph challenges reductive interpretations of Ashʿarism and presents a compelling re-reading of Qushayri’s theological method as one deeply oriented around telos - purpose, meaning, and divine intentionality.

Far from being a mere transmitter of established doctrine, Qushayri emerges as a theological reformulator who forged a synthesis between kalam and tasawwuf. Dr Ismail demonstrates how Qushayri’s approach to divine attributes, human agency, and epistemology was both rooted in tradition and consciously responsive to the intellectual and spiritual concerns of his age.

This monograph thus bridges a long-standing gap between classical theology and mysticism. It invites readers to see Ashʿari kalam not as a static system, but as a dynamic and living tradition - capable of renewal, adaptation, and principled expansion. The work not only deepens our understanding of Qushayri himself, but also contributes to broader conversations in contemporary Islamic thought, comparative theology, and intellectual history.

Importantly, this publication is a reflection of the academic ethos of The Classical Institute. It exemplifies the kind of research we are committed to: rigorous, enduring, and grounded in the classical tradition while speaking meaningfully to our times.

We warmly invite you to read more about this major contribution via De Gruyter–Brill’s website:
Access the publication here

Please join us in celebrating this milestone in Dr Ismail’s scholarly journey, and in the unfolding intellectual legacy of The Classical Institute.