Comparative Study of Semantics of Narrated Theology from the View Point of Ash’arits, Salafis and Imamis With Emphasis on the Ideas of al-Fakhr al-Razi, Ibn Taymiyyah and al-Fadil al-Miqdad

In some Qur’anic verses and Prophetic narrations some characteristics are attributed to God which they are rationally impossible to be attributed to God if they are taken in their literal meaning. These attributions are called narrated attributes (al-sifat al-khabariyya).  Muslim scholars of different sects have provided different opinions about the exegesis of these verses and narrations. This dissertation tries to analyze and compare the bases and implications of the opinions of three Ash’arite, Salafi and Imami scholars. Al-Razi al-Ash’ari and al-Fadil al-Miqdad, consider narrated attributes as trope and interpret them allegorically. Ibn Taymiyyah, however, understands them literally in regard with both God and human, but he says that when they are attributed to the human their meaning is clear but when they are attributed to God their meaning is unknown. Rationalism (superiority of reason to narration), believing in supernatural and allowing trope in the Qur’an are among the bases of the opinion of al-Fakhr al-Razi and al-Fadil al-Miqdad and literalism (superiority of traditions over reason), sensualism, and denying trope in the Qura’n are some of Ibn Taymiyyah’s view in regard with these attributions. Purifying God from anthropomorphism, having body and other corporal limitations is the implication of the viewpoint of al-Razi and al-Fadil al-Miqdad. On the other hand, the impossibility of knowing God is the implication of Ibn Taymiyyah’s stance about the meaning of these attributes. Identification of God with human, His physical locatedness, His compoundedness and neediness are anthological implications of Salafi analysis of these attributes. The defenders of allegorical interpretation, interpret these attributes allegorically to scape these implications Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and al-Fadil al-Miqdad have similar attitudes about the meaning of narrated attributes. In analyzing these attributes, al-Razi has abandoned Ash’arite principle that says we prove these attributes but we don’t know what they mean about God, and has agreed with Imami scholars in this regard. This agreeness takes root from their common bases in understanding these attributes.