Anthropomorphism in Islam: The Challenge of Traditionalism (700-1350) (Edinburgh Studies in Classical Islamic History and Culture)

More than any other issue in early and medieval Islamic theology, anthropomorphism (tashbīh) stood at the heart of many theological debates. These debates were not purely intellectual; they were intrinsically linked to political struggles over hegemony. The way a scholar interpreted the anthropomorphic descriptions of God in the Qur’an and the Hadith (for instance, God’s hand, God’s laughter or God’s sitting on the heavenly throne) often reflected his political and social stature, and his theological affinity. This book focuses on aḥādīth al-ṣifāt – the traditions that depict God and His attributes in an anthropomorphic language. The book reveals the way these traditions were studied and interpreted in the circles of Islamic traditionalism which included ultra-traditionalists (the Hanbalites and their forerunners) and middle-of-the-road traditionalists (Ash’arites and their forerunners). The book presents an in-depth literary analysis of aḥādīth al-ṣifāt while considering the role of the early scholars of Hadith in shaping the narrative of these anthropomorphic texts. The book also offers the first scholarly and systematic presentation of hand, face, and bodily gestures that the scholars performed while transmitting the anthropomorphic traditions. The book goes on to discuss the inner controversies in the prominent traditionalistic learning centres of the Islamic world regarding the way to understand and interpret these anthropomorphic traditions. Through a close, contextualized, and interdisciplinary reading in Hadith compilations, theological treatises, and historical sources, this book offers an evaluation and understanding of the traditionalistic endeavours to define anthropomorphism in the most crucial and indeed most formative period of Islamic thought. Explores the problem of anthropomorphism: a major bone of contention in 8th to 14th-century Islamic theologyMore than any other issue in Islamic theology, anthropomorphism (tashbih) stood at the heart of many theological debates, and was mostly discussed within the circles of traditionalist Islam. The way a scholar interpreted the anthropomorphic descriptions of God in the Qur'an or the Hadith (for instance, God's hand, God's laughter or God's sitting on the heavenly throne) often reflected his political and social stature, as well as his theological affinity. This book presents an in-depth literary analysis of the textual and non-textual elements of aḥadith al-ṣifat - the traditions that depict God and His attributes in an anthropomorphic language. It goes on to discuss the inner controversies in the prominent traditionalistic learning centres of the Islamic world regarding the way to understand and interpret these anthropomorphic traditions. Through a close, contextualized, and interdisciplinary reading in Hadith compilations, theological treatises, and historical sources, this book offers an evaluation and understanding of the traditionalistic endeavours to define anthropomorphism in the most crucial and indeed most formative period of Islamic thought.Key FeaturesIncludes case studies of anthropomorphic traditions, tribal heritage and lore, the Hashwiyya and the traditionalistsExplores non-textual elements in the anthropomorphic traditions (including body-gestures and mimicry)Studies rhetorical devices and rationalized argumentations in the writings of traditionalist theologiansProvides the first in-depth literary and linguistic analysis of the anthropomorphic material in the Hadith La 4e de couverture indique : "More than any other issue in Islamic theology, anthropomorphism (tashbih) stood at the heart of many theological debates, and was mostly discussed within the circles of traditionalist Islam. The way a scholar interpreted the anthropomorphic descriptions of God in the Qur'an or the Hadith (for instance, God's hand, God's laughter or God's sitting on the heavenly throne) often reflected his political and social stature, as well as his theological affinity. This book presents an in-depth literary analysis of the textual and non-textual elements of aḥadith al-ṣifat - the traditions that depict God and His attributes in an anthropomorphic language. It goes on to discuss the inner controversies in the prominent traditionalistic learning centres of the Islamic world regarding the way to understand and interpret these anthropomorphic traditions. Through a close, contextualized, and interdisciplinary reading in Hadith compilations, theological treatises, and historical sources, this book offers an evaluation and understanding of the traditionalistic endeavours to define anthropomorphism in the most crucial and indeed most formative period of Islamic thought." "More than any other issue in Islamic theology, anthropomorphism (tashbih) stood at the heart of many theological debates, and was mostly discussed within the circles of traditionalist Islam. The way a scholar interpreted the anthropomorphic descriptions of God in the Qur'an or the Hadith (for instance, God's hand, God's laughter or God's sitting on the heavenly throne) often reflected his political and social stature, as well as his theological affinity. This book presents an in-depth literary analysis of the textual and non-textual elements of aḥadith al-ṣifat - the traditions that depict God and His attributes in an anthropomorphic language. It goes on to discuss the inner controversies in the prominent traditionalistic learning centres of the Islamic world regarding the way to understand and interpret these anthropomorphic traditions. Through a close, contextualized, and interdisciplinary reading in Hadith compilations, theological treatises, and historical sources, this book offers an evaluation and understanding of the traditionalistic endeavours to define anthropomorphism in the most crucial and indeed most formative period of Islamic thought."--Back cover The Problem Of Anthropomorphism (tashbih) -- The Perception Of A Divine Being In A Human Form -- Was One Of The Major Bones Of Contention In Islamic Theology From The 8th To The 14th Centuries. These Debates Were Not Purely Intellectual: The Theological Controversy Was Often A Façade Masking Political Struggles Over Hegemony. The Way A Scholar Interpreted The Descriptions Of God In The Qur'an And Hadith -- God's Hand, God Sitting On The Heavenly Throne -- Often Reflected His Political And Social Stature, As Well As His Theological Affinity.livnat Holtzman Focuses On The Inner Debates On Tashbih Within The Circles Of Islamic Traditionalism In Medieval Medina, Baghdad, Nishapur, Damascus And Cairo. Through A Close Reading Of The Writings Of Ash'ari And Hanbali Thinkers, He Evaluates The Traditionalist Endeavours To Define Anthropomorphism In The Most Formative Period Of Islamic Thought. Livnat Holtzman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 392-419) And Index. Title Page Copyright Contents Preface and Acknowledgements Introduction 1 The Narrator and the Narrative: A Literary Analysis of Ahadıth al-Sifat 2 A Tale of Two Narrators: Some Historical, Geographical and Cultural Considerations 3 Gestures and Ahadıth al-Sifat 4 The Diversified Solution to the Challenge of Islamic Traditionalism: Ahadıth al-Sifat and Bi-La Kayfa 5 Iconic Books and Gestures: Ahadıth al-Sifat in the Public Sphere Final Remarks and Conclusions Appendix I: Full Translations of Lengthy Traditions Appendix II: Full Translation of ‘the Hadıth of Allegiance’ of Abu Razin Appendix III: Chains of Transmission Appendix IV: Chains of Transmission Appendix V: Chains of Transmission Bibliography Index An analysis of the Hollywood Teen Movie from a variety of key theoretical perspectives