In Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya and the Divine Attributes Miriam Ovadia offers a thorough discussion on the hermeneutical methodology applied in the theology of the Ḥanbalite traditionalistic scholar Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 1350), the most prominent disciple of the renowned Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328). Focusing on Ibn al-Qayyim's voluminous â yet so far understudied â work on anthropomorphism, al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq al-Mursala, Ovadia explores his modus operandi in his attack on four fundamental rationalistic convictions, while demonstrating Ibn al-Qayyim's systemization of the Taymiyyan theological doctrine and theoretical discourse. Contextualizing al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq with relevant writings of thinkers who preceded Ibn al-Qayyim, Ovadia unfolds his employment of KalÄmic terminology and argumentations; thus, his rationalized-traditionalistic authoring of a theological manifesto directed against his contemporary AshÊ¿arite elite of Mamluk Damascus.
Miriam Ovadia earned her doctorate degree in Islamic Studies, at Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies, Freie Universität Berlin (2017). Her research concentrates on Islamic theology and Middle Eastern Studies.
"Die Arbeit Ovadias zeichnet sich, soweit es ihre Textanalysen betrifft, durch groÃe Genauigkeit aus. Die Themen der Attributenlehre werden in ihren geistesgeschichtlichen Kontext gestellt, was auch bedeutet, dass die Autorin sich mit Werken anderer sunnitischer Theologen auseinandersetzen musste." Angelika Brodersen, in Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 114/4â5 (2019)
AcknowledgmentsNote on Transliteration and Translation Introduction: Ibn al-Qayyimâs al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq: A Hostile Response to Rationalism âIslamic Traditionalistic Theology âIbn Qayyim al-Jawziyya as (an) a (In)dependent Scholar âMethodological Lines of the Textual Inquiry
1 The Scholarly Setting of Mamluk Damascus: al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iqâs Birthplace â1.1âA Stormy Approach: Ibn Taymiyya on the Issue of Divine Attributes â1.2âIbn Taymiyyaâs View on taʾwÄ«l in BayÄn talbÄ«s al-jahmiyya
2 A Stroke of Lightning: al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq in Ibn al-Qayyimâs Theological Writing â2.1âScope of al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq: The Text and Related Writings â2.2âAl-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq within Mamluk Intellectual Literature â2.3âAppropriating the Taymiyyan Discourse in al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq: Ibn al-Qayyimâs Systemization â2.4âAl-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iq as a KalÄm Manual: Ibn al-Qayyimâs Rationalization â2.5âAgainst taʾwÄ«l: al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iqâs Main Argument
3 First á¹ÄghÅ«t Refutation: The Islamic Scriptures Produce Certain Knowledge â3.1âIbn al-Qayyimâs Rationalized-Traditionalistic Arguments on Epistemology in al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iqI â3.2âFakhr al-DÄ«n al-RÄzÄ« on Certain Knowledge: Skepticism â3.3âIbn Taymiyyaâs Initial Critique against al-RÄzÄ« â3.4âIbn al-Qayyimâs Development: Restoring Optimism
4 Second á¹ÄghÅ«t Refutation: Revelation is the Provenance of Knowledge â4.1âIbn al-Qayyimâs Rationalized-Traditionalistic Arguments on Epistemology in al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iqII â4.2âIbn Taymiyyaâs Initial Critique against al-GhazÄlÄ« (from the View of Ibn al-Qayyim) â4.3âIbn al-Qayyim on the Epistemological Value of Revelation
5 Third á¹ÄghÅ«t Refutation: Undermining the Theoretical Basis of majÄz â5.1âPrefatory Remarks: The ḥaqÄ«qa/majÄz Dichotomy and the Origin of Language â5.2âIbn Taymiyyaâs Critique against majÄz â5.3âIbn al-Qayyimâs Rationalized Hermeneutics â5.4âAttacking the MuÊ¿tazilite Heritage â5.5âIbn al-Qayyimâs Rational-Traditionalistic Inspiration â5.6âIbn al-Qayyimâs Recruitment of Ibn Rushd against TaʾwÄ«l
6 Fourth á¹ÄghÅ«t Refutation: Hadith Literature Produces Certainty â6.1âIbn Taymiyya on the Validity of ḥadÄ«th al-ÄḥÄd â6.2âIbn al-Qayyimâs Ten Arguments on the Value of ḥadÄ«th al-ÄḥÄd â6.3âStructural Aspects of Ibn al-Qayyimâs Rationalization: al-á¹¢awÄÊ¿iqâs Literary Symmetry Conclusions BibliographyIndex of NamesGeneral Index
All interested in Islamic philosophy, theology and jurisprudence, intellectual history of the Mamluk period, Ibn Taymiyya and his teachings, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, the theological issues of divine attributes and anthropomorphism.