Dualistic Doctrines as Evaluated by Islamic Hadiths

Document Type : The Quarterly Jornal

Authors

1 PhD, Ancient Iranian Religions, Faculty of Religions, University of ‎Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran. ‎

2 MA student, Teaching the History of Islamic Culture and ‎Civilization, Islamic Maaref University, Qom, Iran.‎

Abstract

Dualistic schools of thought believe in two governing principles that oversee good and evil. Throughout history, dualism has manifested in various forms, shaping traditions such as Zoroastrianism and Gnosticism. Dualists and Magians each offered distinct explanations for this duality until Islam, with its strict monotheistic ideology, engaged in a fundamental confrontation with these beliefs. This article, employing an analytical-critical method and drawing upon Islamic hadiths, examines and critiques the doctrines of dualistic traditions. Its primary aim is to elucidate the responses of the Shiite Imams in addressing dualistic worldviews and to demonstrate the superiority of Islam’s monotheistic framework over these doctrines. The findings indicate that Islamic hadiths challenge dualistic beliefs with rational arguments, presenting monotheism as the only logical path. Islam’s decisive reasoning was so intellectually compelling that, over the centuries, dualistic doctrines faded into obscurity, and notions of duality disappeared from the theological discourse of various traditions. From the perspective of Islamic hadiths, all forms of dualism—whether Iranian, Magian, Gnostic, or otherwise—share fundamental characteristics. A comprehensive analysis allows for a comparative assessment of these commonalities while also distinguishing the unique aspects of each tradition. This study, by examining hadiths that critique dualistic and mythological beliefs, identifies fourteen hadith-based critiques of mythological dualism, reaffirming monotheism as the sole rational worldview.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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