al-Tadmuriyya

Al-Tadmuriyya (in full: al-Tadmuriyya: Tahqiq al-Ithbat li-l-Asma' wa-l-Sifat wa-Haqiqat al-Jam' bayn al-Qadar wa-l-Shar') is a theological treatise written by the Hanbali scholar Ibn Taymiyya (661–728 AH / 1263–1328 CE), focusing on the affirmation of divine names and attributes and the reconciliation between religious law and divine decree al-Tadmuriyya+1.

Background and Purpose

The treatise was composed in response to inquiries sent to Ibn Taymiyya by seekers from the city of Tadmur (Palmyra) in the Levant Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - Muh…+1. In the opening prologue, Ibn Taymiyya explains that he wrote down the substance of what attendees had heard from him in certain scholarly gatherings regarding two foundational subjects: the affirmation of God's oneness and attributes (al-tawhid wa-l-sifat), and the relationship between revealed law and predestination (al-shar' wa-l-qadar) Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - Muh…+1. He attributed the necessity of addressing these two matters to widespread confusion and differing views among various theological schools Sharh al-Qawaid al-Sab' m…+1.

Structure and Contents

The work is organized around two principal foundations:

First Foundation: Divine Names and Attributes

The first section establishes the approach of early Muslim scholars (al-salaf) in affirming divine attributes described in the Quran and the Sunnah without anthropomorphism (tamthil) or divestment (ta'til), while critiquing the positions of groups such as the Batinites, philosophers, Jahmites, and Mu'tazilites Sharh al-Qawaid al-Sab' m…+1. Ibn Taymiyya establishes two rational arguments to refute opponents:

• The rule of parity among attributes: Whatever rationale an opponent applies to accept certain divine attributes while rejecting others must logically be applied consistently across all attributes Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - al-….
• The rule linking attributes to essence: The discussion concerning God's attributes mirrors that of His divine essence; since opponents affirm an essence that does not resemble created essences, they must likewise affirm attributes that do not resemble created attributes Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - al-…+1.

To illustrate that sharing a common nominal designation does not entail equivalent realities between Creator and created beings, Ibn Taymiyya provides two analogies:

1. The realities of Paradise: Although objects and delights in Paradise share names with worldly things (such as fruit and meat), their actual reality and modalities in the hereafter remain beyond human comprehension, demonstrating that nominal similarity does not mean identical substance even among created things Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - al-…+1.
2. The human spirit (al-ruh): The spirit is a real entity affirmed with specific descriptions (such as ascending, descending, and being drawn out), yet human reason cannot grasp its exact modality or form, showing that affirming an entity's real attributes without knowing their modality does not entail physical resemblance Sharh al-Qawaid al-Sab' m…+1.

The first part concludes with a set of comprehensive interpretive rules (qawa'id), numbering six in standard manuscript recensions and seven in others Sharh al-Aqida al-Tadmuri…+1. These rules address the dynamics of positive affirmation and negation of defects, the proper understanding of literal and contextual apparent meanings (zahir), the errors stemming from false analogical deductions, and the harmony between sound intellect and authentic revelation Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - al-…+1.

Second Foundation: Religious Law and Divine Decree

The second section addresses the balance between God's universal predestination (qadar) and His legislative commands and prohibitions (shar') Sharh al-Qawaid al-Sab' m…. Ibn Taymiyya explains that true worship requires total obedience to divine commandments and that belief in God's sovereignty over creation must not be used as an excuse to neglect moral duties or violate religious obligations Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - al-…+1. In this context, he examines mystical practices and identifies three meanings of spiritual annihilation (fana'):

• The legitimate, religious annihilation (al-fana' al-dini al-shar'i), which consists of annihilating one's devotion to all other deities in exclusive worship of God Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - al-….
• Annihilation from witnessing anything besides God (al-fana' 'an shuhud ma siwa Allah), a state experienced in the contemplation of divine Lordship that was not part of the required path of early Muslims Sharh al-Tadmuriyya - al-….
• Existential pantheistic annihilation, which erases the ontological distinction between Creator and creation Sharh al-Aqida al-Tadmuri…+1.

Commentaries and Editions

Al-Tadmuriyya is recognized among Athari scholars as an advanced theoretical manual that systematizes the creedal positions outlined in Ibn Taymiyya's shorter treatises Sharh Lamiyat Ibn Taymiyy…+1.

The text has been taught widely and commented upon by later scholars. An abridgment titled Taqrib al-Tadmuriyya was produced by Ibn Uthaymeen Taqrib al-Tadmuriyya. Detailed commentaries include al-Tuhfa al-Mahdiyya by Falih ibn Mahdi Al Mahdi, as well as commentaries by Abd al-Rahman al-Barrak, Nasir al-Aql, and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Khamis al-Tuhfa al-Mahdiyya Shar…+3. Critical printed editions of the text include that prepared by Muhammad ibn Awdah al-Sa'awi, published in Riyadh al-Tadmuriyya.