Proofs of Incorporeality of God In Islam And Judaism: Analysis On The Discourse Of Al-Ghazali And Maimonides

Authors

  • Nurhanisah Senin JJabatan Dakwah Usuluddin, Fakulti Pengajian Peradaban Islam, Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor
  • Mustafa Kamal Amat Misra Jabatan Dakwah Usuluddin, Fakulti Pengajian Peradaban Islam, Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor
  • Khadijah Mohd Khambali@Hambali Jabatan Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya
  • Wan Adli Wan Ramli Jabatan Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/umran2021.8n2.370

Keywords:

Incorporeality of God, al-Ghazali, Maimonides.

Abstract

This study aims to examine the concept of incorporeality of God according to al-Ghazālī and Maimonides. Due to the existence of ‘human-like’ attributes and actions in the Hebrew Bible, it entails to various interpretations towards anthropomorphic verses within Muslim and Jewish society. During the golden age of Islamic civilization, fellow Jews and Christian were seen to be engaged in theological discourse with Muslim scholars. The emerging trend during that time in inculcating rational interpretations into religion has triggered scholars to be engaged in the inter-theological dialogue. Prior to this critical situation, al-Ghazālī and Maimonides were seen playing vital roles in affirming the incorporeality of God and refuting anthropomorphism in their respective religions. Therefore, this study will highlight their methods in affirming the incorporeality of God. In sum, it can be observed that al-Ghazālī employed kalām’s method of arguments on jawhar fard while Maimonides’ methods reciprocate Aristotle’s argument on the theory of motion. Through their propositions, both scholars denounced God to be associated to any form of substance, accident and body. Both argued that God is an incorporeal being that does not possess any forms or figures. However, Maimonides arguing through the theory of motion led to the concept of God as the First Mover. Meanwhile al-Ghazālī opposed against the former concept and argued that God particularized (mukhaşşiş) of every creations. In sum, it is apparent that the argument of incorporeality that serves as the fundamental proposition is essential in having the right understanding on the concept of God. Despite having the similarities in arguing on the incorporeality of God, both al- Ghazālī and Maimonides differ in comprehending the concept of God.

 

Author Biographies

Nurhanisah Senin, JJabatan Dakwah Usuluddin, Fakulti Pengajian Peradaban Islam, Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor

PhD, Lecturer

Mustafa Kamal Amat Misra, Jabatan Dakwah Usuluddin, Fakulti Pengajian Peradaban Islam, Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor

Master Candidate, Lecturer

Khadijah Mohd Khambali@Hambali, Jabatan Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya

PhD, Associate Proffesor,

Wan Adli Wan Ramli, Jabatan Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya

PhD, Senior Lecturer,

References

Al-Ghazālī, Abu Hamid bin Muhammad (2008). Al-Iqtiṣād fī al-I’tiqād. Jeddah: Dār al-Minhaj,

Al-Ghazālī, Abu Hamid bin Muhammad (2008). Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn. Vol. 1. Cairo: Al-Maktabah al-Tawfīqiyyah,

Al-Juwaynī, Dhiya’ al-Din Abd Malik bin Yusuf (1982). Al-Shamil fi Usul al-Din. Iskandariah: Dar al-Maarif

Campanini, Massimo (2008). An Introduction to Islamic Philosophy. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press,

Davidson, Herbert (1987). Proofs for Eternity, Creation and the Existence of God in Medieval Islamic and Jewish Philosophy. New York: Oxford University Press,

Harvey, Steven (2005), “Al-Ghazālī and Maimonides and their Books of Knowledge” J.M. Harris (ed.), Be’erot Yitzhak – Studies in Memory of Isadore Twersky

Rudavsky, Tamar (2010). Maimonides. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell,

Stroumsa, Sarah. Maimonides in His World: Portrait of a Mediterranean Thinker. Oxforshire: Princeton University Press, 2009

Sulaiman Dunya (N.d). Al-Haqīqah fī al-Naẓr al-Ghazāli. Cairo: Dār al-Ma‘ārif,

Senin, Nurhanisah (2016). Concept of God in the Discourses of al-Ghazālī (D. 1111) and Maimonides (D.1204). University of Malaya. Unpublished thesis,

Watt, Montgomery (1963). Muslim Intellectual: A study of al-Ghazālī. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University,

Wolfson, Harry Austryn (1965). Maimonides in the Unity and Incorporeality of God. The Jewish Quaterly Review. 56 (2), 112-136

Wolfson, Harry Austryn (1979). Repercussion of the Kalam in Jewish Philosophy. USA: Harvard University Press

Wyschogrod, Michael (1982). Trialogue of the Abrahamic Faiths. USA: International Studies Group of Academy of Religion,

Downloads

Published

2021-06-29

How to Cite

Senin, N. ., Amat Misra, M. K. ., Mohd Khambali@Hambali, K. ., & Wan Ramli, W. A. . (2021). Proofs of Incorporeality of God In Islam And Judaism: Analysis On The Discourse Of Al-Ghazali And Maimonides. UMRAN - International Journal of Islamic and Civilizational Studies, 8(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.11113/umran2021.8n2.370

Issue

Section

Articles