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HTS Theological Studies
On-line version ISSN 2072-8050
Print version ISSN 0259-9422
Abstract
NOOR, Umar Muhammad and USMAN, Abur Hamdi. Al-Bantānī and the Interpretation of Ṣifāt verses in Marāḥ Labīd. Herv. teol. stud. [online]. 2023, vol.79, n.2, pp.1-8. ISSN 2072-8050. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v79i2.7661.
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.
Keywords : Wahhabism; ta'wīl; Ṣifāt verses; Ash'arī; al-Bantānī.