al-Sifat al-Ilahiyya Tarifuha, Aqsamuha
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Aḍwāʼ al-Salaf
al-Sifat al-Ilahiyya: Ta'rifuha, Aqsamuha (The Divine Attributes: Their Definition and Classifications) is a theological treatise on Islamic creed by Muhammad ibn Khalifa al-Tamimi, an associate professor in the College of Da'wa and Usul al-Din at the Islamic University of Madinah . The work investigates the theological definition and systematic classification of the Divine Attributes in Islam, focusing on articulating the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah while analyzing and evaluating the positions of divergent theological groups .
Background and Publication
The work addresses a central topic within the theological branch of the Divine Names and Attributes (tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat) . It was published in Riyadh by Adwa' al-Salaf in its first edition in 1422 AH (2001/2002 CE) and appeared in the scholarly journal of the Islamic University of Madinah .
Structure and Content
The book consists of an introduction, two main chapters, a conclusion, and reference indices :
- Introduction: Outlines the significance of studying the Divine Attributes, noting the nobility of knowledge concerning God's perfection, and outlines the research plan .
- Chapter One: Definition of the Attributes and their Relation to the Divine Names and Theological Reportage:
- Section One: Examines the definition of attributes and the technical distinction between description (wasf) and an attribute (sifah) .
- Section Two: Details the types of genitive annexations to God (anwa' al-mudafat ila Allah), distinguishing between the annexation of created ownership (idafat milk wa khalq) and the annexation of an inherent attribute (idafat wasf), citing scholarly affirmations and examining opposing views .
- Section Three: Discusses the conceptual boundaries between the realm of Divine Attributes (bab al-sifat), Divine Names (bab al-asma'), and general theological descriptions/reports (bab al-ikhbar), in addition to the theological status and rules governing ambiguous or non-textual expressions (al-alfaz al-mujmalat) .
- Chapter Two: Classifications of the Attributes:
- Section One: Presents the taxonomy of attributes according to Ahl al-Sunnah, covering general divisions into affirmative (thubutiyya) and privative/negated (salbiyya) attributes, as well as the sub-divisions of affirmative attributes into essential (dhatiyya) and active (fi'liyya), and rational ('aqliyya) and purely textual/transmitted (khabariyya / sam'iyya) .
- Section Two: Outlines the divisions adopted by other theological schools, separating those who negate all affirmative attributes (such as the Jahmiyya and Mu'tazila) from those who affirm only a portion of them . The latter group includes the Kullabiyya and early Ash'arites—who shared the broad division of essential and active attributes but differed in methods of proof—and later Ash'arites and Maturidiyya, who categorized attributes into essential/personal (nafsiyya), privative (salbiyya), qualitative meanings (ma'ani), and derived states (ma'nawiyya) .
Core Conclusions
The treatise concludes with several key tenets regarding the Sunni approach to the Divine Attributes:
- The fundamental standard for a Divine Attribute according to Ahl al-Sunnah is whatever subsists in the Divine Essence and is affirmed by the explicit texts of the Quran and the Sunnah .
- Affirmation of attributes is strictly revelational and text-dependent (tawqifi) .
- Scriptural indications for Divine Attributes operate through three primary modes: explicit naming of an attribute (al-tasrih bi-l-sifah), derivation from a Divine Name that entails that attribute (tadammun al-ism li-l-sifah), or the direct textual affirmation of a Divine action or description (al-tasrih bi-fi'l aw wasf dall 'alayha) .
Answer updated