Written by: Fazilat al-Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri Hafizahullah
(Question): What do they say about Allama Shibli Nomani Hanafi Sahib?
(Answer):
Allama Shibli Nomani is counted among the famous historians of India. He was proficient in several languages including Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, and was a writer and poet. In religion, he was Hanafi and held Mu'tazili thought.
Allama Syed Abu al-Hasan Ali Nadwi (RA) says:
[کان مع ذٰلک معجبا برأیہٖ، لا ینقاد لأحد ولو کان برھانہٗ مقنعا، وفیہ شیء من التلون...... کانت عادتہٗ أنہٗ ربما یأخذ رأیا فی أمر من الأمور من رجل، ثم یعرض علی الناس وینسبہٗ إلٰی نفسہٖ، وربما یعرضہٗ علٰی ذٰلک الرجل بعارضة وبلاغة، ویمھد لہ المقدمات کأنہٗ خصیمہٗ فی ذٰلک الأمر، وکان معتزلیا فی الأصول، شدید النکیر علی الأشاعرة]
Allama Shibli Nomani was opinionated and self-willed; he did not accept anyone's words, even if their argument was strong and invincible. There was some degree of inconsistency (changing colors according to circumstances) found in Allama Shibli... Maulana Shibli Nomani had the habit that when he took someone's opinion on a matter, he would then adopt it as his own and present it to people; sometimes he would attribute the opinion eloquently back to that person, but he would write some introductory words implying that the person was opposed to that matter. Allama Nomani was Mu'tazili in principle and strongly rejected the Ash'aris.
Reference: Takmila Nuzhat al-Khawatir: 1242/8
Allama Taqi Usmani Deobandi Sahib writes:
The words of the head of Nadwa about him are very valuable and reflect the fairness of the author.
Reference: Comments: p.501
Therefore, one should avoid reading the books of Allama Shibli Nomani, because many things in his books are baseless and based on misguidance.
