al-Mutashabih
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- al-Mutashabih
al-Mutashabih (The Ambiguous) is a treatise on Islamic theology and Quranic sciences by the contemporary Saudi scholar Abd al-Majid bin Muhammad al-Wa'lan, examining the concept of al-mutashabih (the ambiguous or obscure text) as used in creedal literature.
Purpose and Scope
The work is designed as a concise study clarifying technical terminology found in theological works (kutub al-aqidah), aiming to aid understanding, resolve confusion, and elucidate the creedal methodology of early Muslim scholars (al-salaf) regarding ambiguous texts.
Structure and Contents
The treatise consists of an introduction, a preparatory chapter (tamhid), six main chapters (mabahith), and a conclusion:
- Introduction and Preparatory Chapter: Discusses the significance and outline of the research, followed by the linguistic and technical definitions of al-muhkam (the clear and decisive) and al-mutashabih (the ambiguous or multivalent), in both their general and specific applications.
- Chapter 1: Decisiveness and Ambiguity in the Holy Quran: Examines how the Quran describes itself as entirely muhkam, entirely mutashabih, or divided into both categories.
- Chapter 2: The Wisdom Behind the Presence of al-Mutashabih in the Quran and Sunnah: Explores the divine purpose of ambiguous texts, including testing human submission and faith, encouraging scholarly effort, and distinguishing firmly grounded scholars (al-rasikhun fi al-ilm) from deviant interpretations.
- Chapter 3: Types of al-Mutashabih.
- Chapter 4: The Muslim's Stance Regarding al-Mutashabih.
- Chapter 5: The Ruling on Interpreting (ta'wil) al-Mutashabih.
- Chapter 6: Refuting the Claim that God's Attributes are from al-Mutashabih: Argues against the assertion that the texts concerning divine attributes (ayat wa-ahadith al-sifat) belong to the category of ambiguous texts whose meanings are unknown.
- Conclusion: Summarizes the central findings of the study.
Methodology and Key Conclusions
The author follows a systematic scholarly method by attributing Quranic verses with their surah names and numbers, documenting hadiths and historical reports with citations, volume numbers, and page references, and appending reference and subject indexes.
The author concludes that Islamic canonical texts are fundamentally clear, and perceived ambiguity is relative to the reader due to lack of comprehensive examination or understanding. He also affirms that the meanings of divine attributes are known, while the unknown aspect is their reality and exact modality (al-kayfiyyah), rejecting the stance of speculative theologians (ahl al-kalam) who classify them as completely obscure texts whose meanings are inaccessible.
Answer updated