English Pdf — Khalq Af 39-al Al-ibad
Khalq Af‘āl al-‘Ibād (خلق أفعال العباد) is one of the earliest surviving works in Islamic theology (‘aqidah) specifically addressing the contentious issue of whether human actions are created by God or are self-originated by humans. Written by Imam al-Bukhari (d. 870 CE), this short but powerful treatise defends the orthodox Sunni position against the Mu‘tazilite doctrine that humans create their own acts independently of God’s creative power.
To understand the search, we must break down the Arabic transliteration:
Literal Translation: “The Creation of the Actions of the Servants.”
The Core Question: Did Allah create human actions (e.g., your decision to read this article, your belief, your disbelief), or did humans create their own actions via free will?
Imam Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari (d. 256 AH) authored a seminal work titled "Khalq Af’al al-‘Ibad" as a standalone treatise or as a crucial section within his Sahih. In modern numbering (including the famous Fath al-Bari commentary), this subject is addressed under specific chapters. The "39" in your keyword likely refers to:
The book systematically refutes the claims of the Qadariyyah (those who deny divine decree) who claimed that humans create their own actions entirely independent of Allah. Al-Bukhari uses verses from the Quran and Hadith to prove that even the movement of a leaf is under Allah’s knowledge and power.
No widely published standalone peer-reviewed English PDF exists freely online for the full book. However, you can find:
If you cannot find an English PDF, use:
Final recommendation: Start with Archive.org and Academia.edu using the exact Arabic title in your search. If you only need the core arguments, refer to standard English works on Sunni creed like Al-ʿAqidah al-Wasitiyyah (Ibn Taymiyyah) or Sharh al-ʿAqidah al-Tahawiyyah.
Given the difficulty in pinpointing the exact document or paper you're referring to, I'll offer a few suggestions on how to proceed:
If you have any more details or a specific field of study related to "Khalq Af 39-al Al-Ibad," providing them could help narrow down the search.
Khalq Af’al al-Ibad (The Creation of Human Actions) is a foundational theological treatise written by Imam Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Bukhari (d. 256H), the world-renowned compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari
. While often overshadowed by his hadith compendium, this work is a critical defense of early Sunni creed (
) against the rationalist and heterodox movements of his time, specifically the Salafi Bookstore UK Core Themes and Objectives The Nature of Human Actions
: The book primarily argues that while humans possess the will to act, their actions are ultimately created by Allah. Refutation of the Jahmiyyah khalq af 39-al al-ibad english pdf
: Al-Bukhari rigorously opposes the Jahmiyyah sect, particularly their denial of Allah's attributes and their views on the "createdness" of the Quran. Affirmation of Divine Attributes
: The text affirms specific attributes of Allah, such as His being above the Throne ( ), His speech, and His "descent" ( ), while strictly avoiding physical anthropomorphism ( SifatuSafwa Book Structure and Content The work is composed of approximately 664 reports
accompanied by al-Bukhari's own chains of transmission. Its logical progression includes: Salafi Bookstore UK Stance on Innovators : Establishing the position of Ahl al-Sunnah
toward the Jahmiyyah and the consequences of adopting their ideology. Creation of Man's Deeds
: Proof that human movement and voices are created, distinguishing between the of recitation (created) and the of Allah being recited (uncreated). Preservation of Salaf Sayings
: It serves as a historical repository for the theological statements of the Companions ( ) and their immediate followers. SifatuSafwa Historical Significance The Trial of al-Bukhari
: The Imam authored this during a period of intense theological scrutiny, where he himself was accused by some of falling into the very errors he sought to refute regarding the recitation of the Quran. The al-Mizzi Incident
: Centuries later, the book remained controversial. In 712 AH, the scholar al-Hafiz al-Mizzi
was briefly imprisoned for reading chapters from this book aloud in the Umayyad Mosque, as certain groups felt targeted by its refutations. Salafi Bookstore UK Availability
You can find digital versions and physical copies through various academic and religious retailers: Digital PDFs
: Scholarly analyses and partial translations are available on platforms like Archive.org Physical Prints
: Annotated editions verified from multiple manuscripts can be purchased from SifatuSafwa Salafi Bookstore theological arguments
al-Bukhari uses to distinguish between the Quran and its recitation? Khalq Af'aal al-'Ibaad by Imam al-Bukhari - SifatuSafwa
The text you are looking for is likely " Khalq Af'al al-Ibad Literal Translation: “The Creation of the Actions of
" (Creation of the Actions of Servants) by Imam al-Bukhari. This classical work addresses theological issues regarding the nature of human actions and the Qur'an.
While a complete, single-file English PDF of the entire book can be difficult to find through standard retailers, you can access substantial portions, critical analyses, and English translations of the creed mentioned in the book through the following sources: Online Access & PDFs
Critical Analysis & Partial Text: A document containing a critical analysis and translated segments of Khalq Af'al al-Ibad is available on Scribd .
Creed of Imam Bukhari: The core theological positions and quotes from the book are summarized and translated on platforms like Darul Tahqiq , which discusses the "Creed of Imam Bukhari and the Salaf."
Historical Context: For background on the book's impact on Islamic scholarship, you can read about the work's historical significance on Archive.org . Key Themes of the Book
Creation of Actions: It explores the belief that while humans perform actions, Allah is the ultimate Creator of those actions.
Status of the Qur'an: It defends the orthodox position that the Qur'an is the uncreated Word of Allah, specifically addressing the "Mihna" (Inquisition) period.
Refutation of Sects: The text serves as a refutation against the Jahmiyyah and Mu'tazilah sects regarding their views on the Attributes of Allah and the nature of the Qur'an.
Khalq Af’al al-Ibad (The Creation of the Actions of Servants) is a pivotal theological treatise authored by Imam al-Bukhari (d. 256H), the world-renowned compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari. While often overshadowed by his hadith collection, this work is a foundational text in Sunni creed (Aqidah), specifically addressing the "Createdness of Human Actions". Core Theological Content
The book is primarily a refutation of the Jahmiyyah and Mu'tazilah sects. Key themes include:
Created Human Actions: Bukhari proves through Quranic verses and narrations that while God is the Creator of all things, human actions are also created by Him, refuting the Qadariyah view of absolute free will independent of God.
Uncreated Quran: It reaffirms the orthodox Sunni position that the Quran is the uncreated speech of Allah.
The Recitation Distinction: A crucial nuance in this work is Bukhari's distinction between the Quran itself (uncreated) and the human's physical recitation of it (the voice and movements, which are created).
Divine Attributes: The text defends the affirmation of Allah’s attributes, such as His Speech, Highness (Uluww), and Descent (Nuzool), against those who interpret them metaphorically (Ta’teel). Structure and Methodology The book systematically refutes the claims of the
The work is not a philosophical essay but a collection of 664 reports, including Ahadith and sayings of the Salaf (Companions and Followers).
Chapter 1: Mentions the positions of earlier scholars regarding the Jahmiyyah and the ruling on their beliefs.
Chapter 2: Discusses the evidence for the creation of actions.
Author Comments: Unlike a standard hadith collection, Bukhari provides extensive commentary to directly address and dismantle specific doubts raised by innovators. Historical Context and PDFs
Imam al-Bukhari wrote this during a period of intense theological trial (Mihna). He faced accusations from some traditionalist peers who misunderstood his stance on the "recitation" of the Quran, leading him to compile this work to clarify his adherence to the Creed of the Salaf.
PDF Availability: Annotated English translations and critical analyses are available through platforms like Scribd and specialized Islamic bookstores like SifatuSafwa.
Physical Editions: Notable modern prints include those by Salafi Bookstore and Dar Taibah al-Damashqiyyah.
Khalq Af'al al-'Ibad de l'imam al-Bukhari - Al-Bukhary - Al-Boukhari
Please confirm one of these so I proceed:
If you prefer, I can make a reasonable assumption and produce a 1200–1500 word analytical paper in English about a likely topic (creation of humans in classical Islamic theology or a specific treatise). Which do you choose?
The treatise reconciles the powerful Hadith: “The pen has dried upon the knowledge of Allah” with human accountability. The conclusion: Divine creation of acts does not negate human choice (ikhtiyar), as choice itself is a created attribute.
A major section deals with: “If Allah creates all acts, does He create evil?” Al-Bukhari argues that evil is a creation of Allah but is not attributed to Him as an attribute; rather, evil is a relational matter (e.g., pain, disbelief) that serves a greater divine wisdom.
If you find a PDF claiming to be the full translation: