Fakhr al-Din al-Razi on Divine Transcendence and Anthropomorphism

Fakhr al-Dinal-Razi on Divine Transcendence and Anthropomorphism - Hardcover

Author: Mohd. Farid Mohd. Shahran

Publisher: Islamicand Strategic Studies Institute(ISSI), Kalam Research Media (KRM) & Ta'dibInternational

ISBN: 9789671131275
Price: RM88.00
Pages: 242pp
Weight: 0.540kg

As areligion which upholds divine transcendence as its fundamental element inarriving at divine knowledge, Islam is against any attempt to liken God withthe characteristics of others particularly humans. The strong disavowal of anthropomorphismshown by Muslim theologians (the mutakallim?n) especially that againstanthropomorphism brought by certain marginal schismatic sects throughout thehistory of Islamic thought has proved this uncompromising stance. This workanalyses the refutations of one of the important later Ash‘arite mutakallim?n,Fakhr al-D?n al-R?z? (1149-1209) against the literal views of theanthropomorphism who invested God with various anthropomorphic qualities. Sinceanthropomorphism also springs from the false understanding of the ambiguousverses of the Qur’?n (mutash?bih?t), this work examines al-R?z?’s views of mu?kam?tand mutash?bih?t and the role of ta’w?l (allegorical interpretation) as theappropriate device in understanding the meaning of those ambiguous verses.