Anthropomorphism in Islam : : The Challenge of Traditionalism (700-1350) / / Livnat Holtzman.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Edinburgh University Press Complete eBook-Package 2018
• VerfasserIn: Holtzman, Livnat,
• Place / Publishing House: Edinburgh : : Edinburgh University Press, , [2022]; ©2018
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Language: English
• Series: Edinburgh Studies in Classical Islamic History and Culture
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (448 p.)

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

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface and Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1 The Narrator and the Narrative: A Literary Analysis of Aḥādīth al-Şifāt -- 2 A Tale of Two Narrators: Some Historical, Geographical and Cultural Considerations -- 3 Gestures and Aḥādīth al-Şifāt -- 4 The Diversified Solution to the Challenge of Islamic Traditionalism: Aḥādīth al-Şifāt and Bi-Lā Kayfa -- 5 Iconic Books and Gestures: Aḥādīth al-Şifāt in the Public Sphere -- Final Remarks and Conclusions -- Appendix I Full Translations of Lengthy Traditions -- Appendix II Full Translation of ‘the H· adı¯th of Allegiance’ of Abu Razin -- Appendix III Chains of Transmission -- Appendix IV Chains of Transmission -- Appendix V Chains of Transmission -- Bibliography -- Index