Taliqat ala Sharh Lumat al-Itiqad lil-Rajihi
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Taliqat ala Sharh Lumat al-Itiqad (Annotations on the Commentary of Lum'at al-I'tiqad) is an Islamic theological work by the contemporary Saudi scholar Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah al-Rajihi, consisting of explanatory notes on the commentary of the foundational creedal treatise Lum'at al-I'tiqad by Ibn Qudamah (541–620 AH / 1146–1223 CE) .
Scope and Linguistic Explanation
In his introduction, al-Rajihi addresses the linguistic definition of the treatise's title, explaining that lum'ah (لمعة) literally denotes a sufficiency or modest sustenance (al-bulghah min al-aysh) . In this context, Lum'at al-I'tiqad signifies a sufficient portion of sound creed that aligns with the Quran, the Sunnah, and the theological positions of the early righteous predecessors (al-salaf al-salih) .
Method and Theological Principles
The work sets forth key interpretive rules concerning the divine names and attributes:
- Affirming Apparent Meanings: The primary rule requires accepting scriptural texts regarding God's names and attributes according to their apparent meaning (ala zahiriha) without figurative interpretation (tawil), unless established by specific evidence . Al-Rajihi maintains that reinterpreting divine ascension (istiwa) as conquest (istila), or divine descent (nuzul) as the descent of mercy, constitutes speaking about God without knowledge (qawl ala Allah bi-ghayr ilm) . Similarly, he affirms that God possesses two real hands without drawing comparisons to creation, rejecting their reinterpretation as power or favor .
- The Nature and Derivation of Divine Names: All divine names are described as husna (at the peak of beauty and perfection) and are derived from root meanings rather than being rigid proper nouns; each name affirms the divine essence, the specific attribute, and its effect if transitive . Attributes are further classified into affirmative (thubutiyyah) and negating (salbiyyah), as well as transitive and intransitive (such as istiwa and nuzul) .
- Revelation-Bound Derivation (Tawqif): Divine names and attributes are strictly tawqifiyyah, meaning they can only be derived directly from revelation (the Quran and Sunnah) and cannot be deduced through independent reason .
- Unrestricted Number of Divine Names: Divine names are not restricted to a fixed count . Al-Rajihi explains that the hadith mentioning ninety-nine names does not limit God's total names, but rather highlights ninety-nine specific names with the promised virtue that whoever enumerates, memorizes, and acts upon them will enter Paradise . He cites the prophetic supplication mentioning names God has kept hidden in the knowledge of the unseen as evidence of names beyond human reckoning .
Doctrinal Critiques
Al-Rajihi critiques specific theological positions held by earlier scholars. He rejects the view of Ibn Hazm that al-Dahr (time) is one of God's names based on the hadith لا تسبوا الدهر فإن الله هو الدهر ("Do not curse time, for God is time") . Al-Rajihi explains that parallel narrations clarify the meaning as God being the master and controller who alternates night and day, rather than time itself being a divine name .
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