Al-milal Wa Al-nihal English Pdf [patched]

first systematic study of religion

Kitāb al-Milal wa al-Nihal (The Book of Sects and Creeds), authored by Muhammad al-Shahrastani (d. 1153 CE), is widely considered the in history. Writing in the 12th century, al-Shahrastani broke from the polemical traditions of his time to provide an objective, encyclopedic survey of religious communities and philosophical schools. Core Content and Structure

Have you read this classic? What is your favorite section—the discussion on the Mu'tazila, the Christians, or the Indian philosophies? Let us know below.

• Internet Archive (archive.org) – Search “Al-Milal wa al-Nihal Kazi Flynn” – sometimes has scanned copies.
• Academia.edu / ResearchGate – Scholars often upload PDFs for academic use.
• Google Books – Preview available, but not full PDF.
• University libraries – If you have access, they may provide a digital loan via HathiTrust or JSTOR.

1. Introduction to al-Shahrastani
2. The 73 Islamic Sects (summarized)
3. Judaism and Christianity in Medieval Islamic View
4. Zoroastrians and Dualists
5. Indian Religions through Muslim Eyes
6. Greek Philosophy as Reported by al-Shahrastani
7. Appendix: Key terms glossary (Millah, Nihal, Firqah, etc.)

Al-Nihal (Philosophical Schools):

Examines groups without a divinely revealed book, such as the Greek philosophers (Plato, Aristotle), Indian religions, Sabaeans, and materialist thinkers. Methodological Innovation al-milal wa al-nihal english pdf

: This is one of the most cited English translations. It focuses primarily on the sections regarding Islamic sects (the The Book of Religious and Philosophical Sects first systematic study of religion Kitāb al-Milal wa

• Muslim Sects and Divisions (trans. Kazi & Flynn) – covers Islamic sects.
• The Book of Religious and Philosophical Sects – German/English selections.

Pros:

This is the most freely circulating PDF. It is often a scan of a 20th-century Indian publishing house (Madinah Publishing). Covers the entire book roughly. Cons: The English is archaic, sometimes unreadable, and the typesetting is poor. It also lacks critical footnotes. Be careful with this version for citation. Internet Archive (archive