A Semantic Study of Intrinsic Narrated Attributes from Maturidi Perspective with Emphasis on Abu Mansur Maturidi's Thought

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student in Theological Denominations, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Religions and Denominations, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran

Abstract

One of the most controversial issues among Muslim theologians is the intrinsic narrated attributes of God and the different views in this regard. This paper seeks to study and analyze the thought of Abu Mansur Maturidi through the library research and descriptive-analytical method, using two definite works left by him, as well as the thoughts of the followers of Maturidi School about the semantics of the mentioned issue. Abu Mansur Maturidi and other Maturidis have considered the intrinsic narrated attributes of God to be ambiguous or figurative, and have not allowed the apparent meanings of these words and phrases to be taken as the intended, because it leads to tashbih (anthropomorphism) or tajsim (corporealism). Although Abu Mansur Maturidi advocated the idea of tafwiz (delegation) in al-Tawhid (unification of God) because of the cultural-intellectual atmosphere of Transoxiana, which was influenced by the hadith-oriented movement, due to the rationalist approach of the Hanafis and their tendency to ray (sound reasoning) and qiyas (analogical deduction), he, in Tawilat Ahl al-Sunnah (esoteric interpretations of the Sunnis), has interpreted the words containing the intrinsic narrated attributes of God, based on rational data, decisive verses and lexicographers' opinions. Moreover, he has considered for each attribute a meaning commensurate with the oneness and unification of God. In addition, by weakening Maturidi's accuracy in al-Tawhid, his interpretation approach is strengthened.

Keywords

References

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