A central argument used by al-Rāzī and philosophers was that God cannot be a body because every body is composed of parts, and anything composed has a cause for its composition and is therefore contingent and created. Ibn Taymiyyah dismisses this as a misuse of language. He argues that the rational proof against composition is flawed and that applying such a universal rule to God is an unwarranted innovation. He insisted that the divine essence does not resemble created bodies, even if some terms like “body” or “limit” are used analogously.
: Premised on the idea that sound intellect will always inherently agree with authentic revelation; if a contradiction appears, it is either due to corrupted logic or weak textual attribution. Why Modern Researchers Seek the PDF Edition
) of those who use philosophical logic to negate these attributes. The "Hadd" Debate
For those unable to read Arabic, the best approach is to study the summaries written by Ibn Taymiyyah’s students (e.g., Ibn al-Qayyim’s Ijtimaa’ Al-Juyoosh Al-Islamiyyah ) or rely on contemporary commentaries that translate key passages verbatim. Bayan Talbis Al-jahmiyyah Pdf
This comprehensive guide explores the historical context of the text, its central arguments, its significance in Islamic thought, and how modern readers can navigate its massive volumes. Historical Context and Core Objective
You can find digital versions of this work on various Islamic literature repositories: Arabic Original Internet Archive
The book was written primarily as an extensive, line-by-line refutation of another major work: Ta'sis al-Taqdis (تأسيس التقديس) by the famous Ash'ari theologian and philosopher (d. 606 AH). Al-Razi’s work aimed to establish rationalist principles for interpreting the Divine Attributes of Allah, arguing that literal interpretations of certain Quranic verses and Hadiths could lead to anthropomorphism ( tashbih or tajsim ). A central argument used by al-Rāzī and philosophers
To defend the Athari (traditionalist) creed regarding the Names and Attributes of Allah against the philosophical and metaphorical interpretations of the Ash'ari and Mu'tazili schools, whom Ibn Taymiyyah often groups under the label "Jahmiyyah." Key Argument:
Ibn Taymiyyah asserts that Allah must be described exactly as He has described Himself in the Quran and as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) described Him in the authentic Sunnah. He advocates for a methodology of affirming these attributes: Without distorting the textual meaning.
) that only He knows, rather than being in every place or having no location at all. Critique of Kalam: He insisted that the divine essence does not
The book was born out of a direct academic response. The famous Persian theologian and philosopher (d. 1210 CE) had written a highly influential book titled Ta'sis al-Taqdis (The Foundation of Sanctification). In it, Al-Razi used philosophical proofs to argue against the literal interpretation of divine attributes that imply spatial direction or physical characteristics.
: It includes deep dives into Aristotelian and Avicennian philosophy, which Ibn Taymiyyah uses to expose what he considers the flaws in the Mutakallimun (theologians) approach to metaphysics. Google Books Accessing the PDF
: Several prominent institutions, including the King Saud University and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Saudi Arabia, have published verified prints of the manuscript. Digital PDFs allow scholars to compare footnotes, editorial corrections, and manuscript variations easily.
: For those seeking the core arguments without the exhaustive 10-volume detail, the Mukhtasar (Summary) editions are highly recommended for students of creed ( Aqidah ). Summary of Key Details Bayan Talbis al-Jahmiyyah - Ibn Taymiyyah - SifatuSafwa