The Meaning of Atheism and its Meaning in the Holy Quran, Linguistically, Legally and Customarily: Descriptive Study 10.35781/1637-000-137-002

Abstract

This study aims to examine the general rational indication in the thought of Ibn ʿUthaymīn and its use in affirming and explaining the meanings of the Qur’anic verses related to the Divine Names and Attributes, through an applied analysis of his Sharḥ al-ʿAqīdah al-Wāsiṭiyyah. The research seeks to uncover the methodological framework followed by one of the prominent contemporary scholars of the Ummah in interpreting these verses, and to extract the intellectual and methodological treasures embedded in his exegesis, presenting them through modern academic means. The researcher adopted the inductive analytical method in studying this interpretive approach and concluded that Ibn ʿUthaymīn followed a clear and rational methodology in his explanation of the verses of the Divine Names and Attributes as found in his commentary on Ibn Taymiyyah’s al-ʿAqīdah al-Wāsiṭiyyah. His approach was characterized by interpreting the meanings of individual terms while maintaining attention to the general sense and the apparent wording of the text, ending each discussion with a concise theological conclusion derived from the verse. Moreover, he employed a diverse range of evidences—spanning innate reasoning (fiṭrah) , intellect, and empirical examples relevant to contemporary reality. The study also shows that, particularly in responding to opponents of the Sunni creed, Ibn ʿUthaymīn relied on rational proofs drawn from the Qur’an and the legacy of Muslim scholars, presenting them with a persuasive clarity surpassing that of traditional kalām discourse.