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Achtar, Ahmad Sakhr (2012) Contact Between Theology, Hermeneutics and Literary Theory: The Role of Majāz in the Interpretation of Anthropomorphic Verses in the Qur’ān from the 2nd AH/8th CE Until the 7th AH/13th CE. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/14565 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination. Contact between theology, hermeneutics and literary theory: The role of maja>z in the interpretation of anthropomorphic verses in the Qur’a>n from the 2 ndndnd AH/8 ththth CE until the 7 ththth AH/13 ththth CE. Ahmad Sakhr Achtar Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD in Islamic Studies 2012 Department of Near and Middle East School of Oriental and African Studies University of London DEDICATION To My Parents And to all the martyrs of Syria Who have paid their lives for freedom May God have mercy upon their souls 2 Declaration for PhD thesis I have read and understood regulation 17.9 of the Regulations for students of the School of Oriental and African Studies concerning plagiarism. I undertake that all the material presented for examination is my own work and has not been written for me, in whole or in part, by any other person. I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work which I present for examination. Signed: ____________________________ Date: _________________ 3 Abstract Our knowledge of tropical interpretation of anthropomorphic verses in the Qur’a>n by Muslim theologians is very limited. We are mostly in the dark with regard to history, development and methods of tropical interpretation of these verses. The research shows that the process of interpreting anthropomorphic verses in the Qur’a>n (from the 2 nd /8 th to the 7 th /13 th century focusing on the Mu‘tazilites and the Ash‘arites schools) is not a mere exegetical practice, rather it is a result of interaction of three disciplines: Islamic theology, Qur’a>nic hermeneutics and theory of maja>z . The thesis has demonstrated the importance and impact of the development of the theory of maja>z on the interpretation of anthropomorphic verses given the parallel developments in Islamic theology and Qur’a>nic hermeneutics. For each author studied I examined, where possible, his theological views, Qur’a>nic hermeneutics and theory of maja>z before analysing his interpretation of anthropomorphic verses. The development of theory of maja>z from the 2 nd /7 th century to the time of > Al-Khat}i>b al-Qazwi>ni> (d.739AH/1338CE) serves as a background for the subsequent chapters. In the first three centuries of Islam, the awareness of the phenomenon of maja>z in its early stage provided our authors with the tool to interpret anthropomorphic verses. The Mu‘tazilites emphasised the role of reason in their theology and hermeneutics. They employed and developed a theory of maja>z as an effective tool in their interpretation of anthropomorphic verses and it was in the writing of al-Zamakhshari> that their interpretation reached its maturity by his use of both tropes: maja>z based on kina>ya and takhyi>l. Ash‘arites’s tropical interpretation of anthropomorphic verses involves a complex web of the three disciplines especially in the writings of al-Ra>zi>. The impact of the development of the theory of maja>z can be seen in the writings of all authors discussed. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS From the depth of my heart I would like express my sincere gratitude for: Dr. Michael Kirwan who read my thesis in a very short notice; I am grateful for his invaluable comments, kindness and generosity. Prof. Andrew Rippin and Prof. Josef Van Ess for finding time to answer my questions. This thesis would not have appeared in its present form without the invaluable guidance of my supervisor Prof. Muhammad Abdel Haleem. I would like to express my gratitude for his kindness and support From the depth of my heart also I would like to express my gratitude for my father in law Prof. Abdel Karim Khalifa for his continuous moral support and the discussions I have had with him No words can express my gratitude to my parents, and from the depth of my heart I thank my sister Lutfiyya and my brother Muhammad. Finally this thesis would not have come into existence without the love and sacrifice of my wife Nouha Khalifa. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE...................................................................................................1 DEDICATION.................................................................................................2 DECLARATION.............................................................................................3 ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................5 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................6 INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................................................................1...........100 Aims and scope of the research..................................................................................13 Typology of rhetorical figures in Western thought...................................................15 De-anthropomorphism in Judaism and Christianity up to 6 th C.E............................22 Approaches to anthropomorphism in the Qur’a>n......................................................36 Typology of Muslim approaches to anthropomorphic verses...................................38 Anti-Anthropormorphism in Islamic thought: A historical overview......................42 Reason and Revelation in ‘Ilm al-Kala>m................................................................... 45 Q (3:7) as a foundation of ‘ilm al-Ta’wi>l ..................................................................46 Literature review.......................................................................................................49 Method and research plan..........................................................................................51 CHAPTER I Historical development of theory of maja>z ................................................................................................................53..........53 1.1 The treatment of maja>z and isti‘ara before al-Ja>h{iz........................................58 6 1.2 Al-Ja>h{iz (d. }255AH/ 869)................................................................................60 1.3 T^ha‘lab (d. 291AH/904CE)…………………………………………………..66 1.4 Ibn al-Mu‘tazz (d.296AH/908CE)……………………………………………67 1.5 Quda>ma b. Ja‘far (d. 337AH/948CE)...............................................................68 1.6 Ish}a>q b. Wahb al-Ka>tib (fl. Mid-fourth/tenth century)....................................69 1.7 Al-A<midi> (d.371AH/987CE)...........................................................................70 1.8 Al-Rumma>ni> (d.384AH/994CE)……………………………………………...71 1.9 Al-Qa>d}i> al-Jurja>ni> (> 392 AH/1002CE)………………………………………..73 1.10 Ibn Jinni > (d. 392AH/1002CE)………………………………………………..74 1.11 Ibn Fa>ris (d. 395AH/1004CE)………………………………………………...76 1.12 Abu> Hila>l al-‘Askari (d. after 395AH/1005CE)................................................77 1.13 Al-Tha‘a>libi> > (d.429AH/1038CE).....................................................................78 1.14 Ibn Rashi>q al-Qayrawa>ni> (d. 456 or 463AH/1063 or 1071CE)………………80 1.15 Ibn Sina>n al-Khafa>ji> (466AH/1074CE).............................................................82 1.16 ‘Abd al-Qa>hir al-Jurja>ni> (d.471AH/1078CE or 474AH/1081CE).....................84 1.17 Fakhr al-Di>n al-Ra>zi> (d. 606AH/1209CE)........................................................96 1.18 Al-Sakka>ki> > (d. 626AH/1229CE)....................................................................100 1.19 Ibn al-Athi>r (d. 637AH/1239CE).....................................................................103 1.20 Al-Zamalka>ni> d.651AH/1253CE)....................................................................110 1.21 Ibn Abi> al-Is}ba‘ al-Mis}ri> (d.654AH/d.1256)....................................................112 1.22 Badr al-Di>n b. Ma>lik (d.686AH/1287).............................................................114 1.23 Al-Khat}i>b al-Qazwi>ni> (d.739AH/1338CE)......................................................115 Conclusion.........................................................................................................118 CHAPTER II The beginnings: Early authorauthorssss.............................................................................................................................121.......................121 2.1 Muja>hid b. Jabr (21/642,
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