Journal Of Islamic Denominations

Journal Of Islamic Denominations

A Comparative-Critical Analysis of the Concepts of Qadm (Preceding), Itiyān (Coming), Isrā’ (Night Journey), and Nuzūl (Descent) as Attributes of God in the View of Salafī and Imāmī Hadith Commentators

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammadreza Daftari 1
Kavos Roohi Barandagh 2
1 Ph.D. Candidate in Quran and Hadith Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Kavus Ruhi Barandagh, Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jid.2026.559486.2624
Abstract
The theological attributes (Ṣifāt Khabariyyah) of God, such as qadm (preceding), itiyān (coming), isrā’ (night journey), and nuzūl (descent)—which in the Qur'an and traditions indicate aspects of movement and presence pertaining to God—are among the central issues of Islamic theology. These apparent attributes sometimes lead to spatial anthropomorphism. On this basis, the Salafī school insists on affirming their external meaning bi-lā kayf (without asking how), whereas the Imāmī school emphasizes absolute divine transcendence (tanzīh) and the unity of these attributes with the divine essence. The necessity of investigating theological ambiguities arises from adhering to the literal sense of these attributes, where affirmation without modality may lead to corporealism (tajsīm). Therefore, addressing the gap in comprehensive tradition-based (ḥadīth) and commentary-based studies, a comparative-critical analysis of the views of hadith commentators yields a correct understanding of these theological attributes. Hence, using a comparative-critical method, this study first provides a brief lexical and exegetical examination of these attributes, then analyzes and critiques the perspectives of both Salafī and Imāmī hadith commentators regarding the traditions that indicate these attributes. The results show that the Salafīs affirm these attributes as real and literal. In contrast, Imāmī hadith commentators interpret (ta’wīl) the aforementioned attributes while preserving their outward meaning. The findings indicate that Salafī literalism concerning these attributes leads to anthropomorphism (tashbīh) and corporealism (tajsīm) of God, whereas the Imāmī perspective is more consistent with the clear (muḥkamāt) verses of the Qur'an, the traditions of the Infallibles (Ahl al-Bayt), and the rational transcendence of God from theological ambiguities.
Keywords
Theological Attributes (Ṣifāt Khabariyyah)
Hadith Commentators
Salafism
Imāmism
Subjects
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