Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Graduate of the fourth level of the Feyziyyah Seminary, PhD student in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Payam Noor University, South Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
Associated Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Payam-e-Noor University, South Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Theology and Ethics, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
In this article, an effort has been made to revisit the views of two thinkers (Ghazali and Allameh Tabatabaei) regarding the concept of God with reference to the divine names and attributes. In addition to explaining the differences in their views on these names and attributes, an analytical comparison in hadith, kalam (Islamic theology), and philosophy is carried out between two valuable works: "Rasa'el al-Tawhid" by Allameh Tabatabae’i and "Al-Maqsad al-Asna" by Ghazali. The authors believe that despite the significant strengths of both thinkers' views, there are differences such as the differences in the naming conventions of the names, the relationship between the names and attributes, the number of names, the principal names, the fact whether the names are prescribed or not, and also the Greatest Name (Ism al-A'zam). Allameh explains these topics with a philosophical and interpretative perspective, while Ghazali presents his thoughts with a theological and hadith-based perspective, which is entirely different from Allameh's view. The advantage of this research lies in expressing the comparison between philosophy, theology, and hadith with a new approach focusing on the names and attributes. Moreover, examining this issue has significant implications for understanding the names and attributes, such as their hierarchical arrangement and the recognition of theological systems. These implications greatly impact the relationship between humans and God, leading to a closer connection between humans and God, and vice versa. Given the extensive discussion of the divine names and attributes in the works of these two thinkers, the present article examines the concept of "God" by analyzing and comparing prominent works in this field by Imam Muhammad Ghazali and Allameh Tabatabaei.
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