AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightThe research findings indicate that Al-Uthaymin largely adheres to the Salafī methodology, which advocates for accepting scriptural attributes in their literal sense without questioning their “kayfiyya” or resorting to allegorical interpretation.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
The question of al-sifāt al-ilāhiyya has historically been one of the most contentious issues in Islamic intellectual history, serving as a primary point of divergence between various theological schools. Among these, al-sifāt al-khabariyyah—those derived solely from revelation rather than pure reason, such as Allah’s “yad”, “wajh” or his “nüzul”—occupy a central place in the debate between literalist and interpretive traditions. In the contemporary era, the resurgence of Salafī thought has brought these classical debates back to the forefront of theological discourse. This study focuses on Muhammad b. Salih al-Uthaymin, a preeminent figure of modern Salafism and specifically analyzes his monumental work, al-Kanz al-Samīn, to uncover his hermeneutical approach to these attributes. The primary objective of this research is to examine Al-Uthaymin’s understanding of scriptural attributes and to evaluate his interpretations in comparison with classical kalām perspectives. By analyzing specific attributes such as Allah’s uluww, his “yedullah”, “ghadab” and his “istiwa”, the study aims to reveal the epistemological and hermeneutic foundations of his thought. The research is structured around three main goals: a. To delineate the theoretical framework of scriptural attributes within the broader Islamic intellectual tradition. b. To identify the specific exegetical methods Al-Uthaymin employs in al-Kanz al-Samīn when dealing with these attributes. c. To critically assess these interpretations from the standpoint of classical kalām tradition and the concept of ta’wīl The study utilizes qualitative research methods, primarily focusing on textual analysis and comparative interpretation. The primary sources consist of Al-Uthaymin’s tafsīr and his works on aqīdah. These texts are systematically analyzed and then cross-referenced with the literature of classical tafsīr and kalām—particularly the Ash’arite and Maturidite traditions—to highlight the points of convergence and divergence. This comparative approach allows for a deeper understanding of how modern Salafī theology positions itself against the historical Sunnī mainstream. The research findings indicate that Al-Uthaymin largely adheres to the Salafī methodology, which advocates for accepting scriptural attributes in their literal sense without questioning their “kayfiyya” or resorting to allegorical interpretation. He emphasizes that these attributes must be affirmed as they appear in the text to avoid negating Divine descriptions. However, a critical revelation of this study is that Al-Uthaymin, despite his staunch commitment to literalism, occasionally finds it necessary to resort to de facto ta’wīl. This occurs most prominently in verses where a strictly literal reading would inevitably lead to anthropomorphism (tashbīh) or imply that the Divine is confined by space and time. For instance, when dealing with the relationship between the Creator and the created order, the author occasionally shifts his linguistic framework to safeguard the transcendence of Allah. This paradox suggests that even within contemporary Salafī literalism, a pure rejection of ta’wīl is difficult to maintain consistently when faced with the philosophical risks of corporealism. In conclusion, analyzing Al-Uthaymin’s approach in al-Kanz al-Samīin provides vital insights into the epistemological divide between contemporary Salafī theology and classical Sunnī kalām. While Al-Uthaymin seeks to restore what he perceives as the “way of the Salaf” through literalism, his practical application reveals the complex challenges of interpreting the Divine in a way that balances textual fidelity with theological transcendence.
Özet
Bu çalışma, çağdaş Selefî düşüncenin önemli temsilcilerinden Muhammed b. Salih el-Useymîn’in (öl. 2001) el-Kenzü’s-semîn adlı tefsiri ekseninde haberî sıfatlar anlayışını incelemektedir. Araştırmada uluvv, yed, gazap ve istivâ gibi tartışmalı sıfatlar üzerinden İbn Useymîn’in epistemolojik ve hermenötik yaklaşımı, klasik kelâm ekollerinin te’vil yöntemleriyle mukayeseli olarak analiz edilmiştir. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden metin analizi ve karşılaştırmalı yorumlama tekniğinin kullanıldığı çalışmada, müellifin haberî sıfatları büyük oranda lafzî anlamlarıyla kabul ettiği görülmüştür. Ancak inceleme sonucunda, İbn Useymîn’in özellikle antropomorfizm riskinin ve mekân ilişkisinin belirginleştiği noktalarda, Selefî geleneğin katı lafızcılık iddiasına rağmen fiilen te’vile başvurmak durumunda kaldığı tespit edilmiştir. Bu durum, çağdaş Selefî teoloji ile klasik Ehl-i Sünnet kelâmı arasındaki yöntemsel ayrışmayı ve kesişim noktalarını anlamak açısından kritik öneme sahiptir.