The Qur'anic Concept of Allah's Names and Attributes: A Comparative Study in the Context of Modern Mu'tazilite and Salafi Schools of Thought

Abstract

Any comparison of the two branches of theology within the modern Muslim world, the Salafism and the contemporary Mu Tazilism can indicate the Quranic view of the Names and Attributes of Allah. The subject is of paramount significance to Islamic theology, since it is entirely linked to the knowledge of Allah, his actions and the way he relates to the creation. The Salafi tendency is to accept the divine attributes as they are revealed in the Qur an and Sunnah without interpretation (ta wil), distortion (tahrif) or likening (tashbih) to a literal but respectful interpretation of the texts. The modern MuTazili school, with its exposure to the rationalist approach, inclines these days towards allegorical interpretations, and stresses reason (aql) in the interpretation of attributes of God, particularly anthropomorphic phrases such as: the Hand of Allah, I stood upon the Throne, etc. The paper will look at the theological roots, historical precedents, and modern contributions of the two schools, such as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Uthaymeen in the Salafi case, Hasan al-Turabi and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi among the contemporary rationalists. It also examines the manner in which the two schools relate to Quranic verses and Hadiths, and the consequence its respective approach has in the interpretation of Tawhid (monotheism in Islam). Also, the research examines whether there is a possibility of having a balanced framework that can allow fidelity to the scriptures and at the same time answer the intellectuals of the contemporary Muslim mind. The study concludes that although the two schools agree on the basic adherence to the transcendence and uniqueness of God, their methodological point of dissimilarity results in major distinctions in theological implications. However, in order to create unity in the Muslim ummah, it may be useful to find the points of agreement and contribute to the cordial academic discourse. It is also argued that there should be new ijtihad so that Islamic theology can be expressed in a manner to which it can connect to modern intellectuals without undermining the foundational principles of religion.

Keywords: Asma wa Sifat, Tawhid, Salafi Theology, Modern Mu'tazilite Thought, Divine Attributes, Ta'wil and Tafwid, Qur’anic Theology