Al-Bantānī and the Interpretation of Ṣifāt verses in Marāḥ Labīd

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21492425
AutoresUmar Muhammad Noor (0000-0003-3128-3720, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Abur Hamdi Usman (0000-0001-5179-1648, Selangor Islamic University)
Año2023
Volumen79
Número2
Fecha de publicación2023-02-06
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0259-9422 • E-ISSN: 2072-8050
EditorialAOSIS (PUBLISHER • ZA)
DOI10.4102/hts.v79i2.7661
OpenAlexW4321601984
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas18

This article examines the stance held by a Meccan-Indonesian exegete in the 13 AH or 19 AD century, Muḥammad Nawawī al-Bantānī (d. 1230–1314 H/1813–1897 AD), in dealing with Ṣifāt verses in his exegetical work, Marāḥ Labīd li Kashf Ma’nā al-Qur’ān al-Majīd. As an established term, Ṣifāt verses refer to Quranic expressions that ostensibly ascribe anthropomorphic dimensions to God. Interpretation of such ambiguous verses has been bitterly contended since the 2/8th century and remains one of the most debated topics in the pre- and postmodern era. This study applies literature and document analysis focused on many of al-Bantānī’s works. The results show that al-Bantānī actively applied ta’wīl [figurative interpretation] in dealing with Ṣifāt verses without totally discarding amodality position [tafwīḍ].Contribution: Although al-Bantānī never mentioned Wahhabism in any of his works, his interpretation of Ṣifat verses alludes to his indirect response to the Wahhabi’s literalism and anti-ta’wīl approach. In addition, by accepting both of ta’wīl and tafwīḍ solutions, al-Bantānī underpinned the wasaṭī [moderate] stand, which later became the most distinctive tradition in Malay–Islamic discourse

Linguistics · Education and Islamic Studies · Islamic Studies and Radicalism · Philosophy · Qur’anic Interpretation Studies