A Critique of the Palmyran Creed: Deconstructing Ibn Taymiyya’s Theology of Resemblance | Shaykh dr. Saʿid Foudah

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed

Deconstructing Ibn Taymiyya’s Theology of Resemblance

By Shaykh Saʿid Foudah
Translated by Abdul Aziz Suraqah

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed is a detailed theological examination of Ibn Taymiyya’s al-ʿAqīdah al-Tadmuriyyah (The Palmyran Creed) by contemporary theologian Shaykh Saʿid Foudah.

The Palmyran Creed occupies an important place in Ibn Taymiyya’s theological writings. In it, Ibn Taymiyya sets out principles concerning Divine Oneness (tawḥīd), the Names and Attributes of Allah (al-asmāʾ wa-l-ṣifāt), and the relationship between revelation and rational inquiry.

Shaykh Saʿid Foudah subjects these principles to a systematic theological critique, examining their underlying assumptions through both rational argumentation and transmitted evidence.

Divine Transcendence and the Attributes of Allah

Central to the work is the classical theological question of tanzīh: affirming the absolute transcendence of Allah ﷻ from resemblance to created things.

Foudah examines Ibn Taymiyya’s approach to the Divine Attributes and critically analyses principles used in his theological methodology.

Among the subjects discussed are:

• Divine transcendence (tanzīh)
• the Divine Names and Attributes
• tashbīh — resemblance
• tajsīm — corporealism
• takyīf — assigning modality
• tamthīl — drawing likeness
• taʾwīl and tafwīḍ
• the relationship between the Creator and creation
• rational and textual arguments concerning the Divine Attributes
• direction, movement, spatiality, limits and boundaries in theological discourse

A close examination of Ibn Taymiyya’s principles

Rather than limiting himself to general criticism, Foudah works through specific principles found in Ibn Taymiyya’s theological framework.

The book examines, among other things, the principles:

“What is said regarding some Attributes is said regarding others as well”

and:

“What is said regarding the Attributes is similar to what is said regarding the Entity.”

Foudah investigates the logical consequences of these formulations and contrasts them with the theological principle that nothing in creation resembles Allah ﷻ.

The discussion also addresses the famous statement associated with Imām Mālik concerning istiwāʾ, as well as examples involving Paradise and the human soul.

Beyond introductory ʿaqīdah

This is not an introductory creed manual. It is a focused work of theological argumentation dealing with questions of kalām, rational demonstration and the interpretation of theological language.

It is therefore particularly suited to readers who already possess some familiarity with classical discussions of ʿaqīdah and wish to study contemporary scholarly criticism of Ibn Taymiyya’s theological methodology.

About Shaykh Saʿid Foudah

Shaykh Saʿid ʿAbd al-Laṭīf Foudah is a contemporary scholar specialising in Islamic theology (ʿilm al-kalām), logic (manṭiq), and legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh).

Born in Haifa in 1967 and raised in Amman, Jordan, he pursued the traditional study of Qurʾan, Arabic, Shāfiʿī jurisprudence and Islamic theology from an early age. His scholarly work has become particularly associated with advanced theological and rational discussions and with critical studies of Ibn Taymiyya’s theology.

This English translation by Abdul Aziz Suraqah makes one of Foudah’s focused theological critiques accessible to an English-reading audience.

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SHORT SHOPIFY DESCRIPTION

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed is Shaykh Saʿid Foudah’s theological critique of Ibn Taymiyya’s al-ʿAqīdah al-Tadmuriyyah. Through rational and textual argumentation, Foudah examines Ibn Taymiyya’s principles concerning the Divine Attributes, resemblance, transcendence, spatiality and related questions of classical Islamic theology.

An advanced English-language work for students of ʿaqīdah, ʿilm al-kalām and Islamic theology.

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NEDERLANDS

Een kritische studie van al-ʿAqīdah al-Tadmuriyyah

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed is een Engelstalige theologische kritiek van Shaykh Saʿid Foudah op al-ʿAqīdah al-Tadmuriyyah van Ibn Taymiyya.

Foudah analyseert verschillende principes uit Ibn Taymiyya’s benadering van de Namen en Eigenschappen van Allah en bespreekt deze aan de hand van rationele en tekstuele argumentatie.

Centraal staan onderwerpen als tanzīh, de Goddelijke Eigenschappen, tashbīh, tajsīm, takyīf, tamthīl, taʾwīl en tafwīḍ, evenals discussies over richting, beweging, ruimtelijkheid en begrenzing.

Dit is geen eenvoudige introductie tot ʿaqīdah, maar een inhoudelijk stevig werk voor lezers met enige voorkennis van klassieke islamitische theologie.

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العربية

نقد العقيدة التدمرية

كتاب باللغة الإنجليزية للشيخ سعيد فودة يتناول بالنقد والتحليل جملة من الأصول والقواعد التي قررها ابن تيمية في العقيدة التدمرية، ولا سيما ما يتعلق بأسماء الله وصفاته.

يناقش المؤلف مسائل التنزيه، والصفات الإلهية، والتشبيه، والتجسيم، والتكييف، والتمثيل، والتأويل والتفويض، مستعملاً الأدلة العقلية والنقلية في مناقشة هذه القضايا.

وهو كتاب مناسب لطلاب العقيدة وعلم الكلام والمهتمين بالمناقشات المتقدمة في الإلهيات.

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BOOK DETAILS

Title: A Critique of the Palmyran Creed
Subtitle: Deconstructing Ibn Taymiyya’s Theology of Resemblance
Author: Shaykh Saʿid Foudah
Author Arabic: سعيد فودة
Translator: Abdul Aziz Suraqah
Original work discussed: al-ʿAqīdah al-Tadmuriyyah | العقيدة التدمرية
Original author discussed: Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya
Subject: ʿAqīdah / ʿIlm al-Kalām / Islamic Theology
Language: English
Publisher: Sunni Publications
Place: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Edition: First Edition
Year: 2018
Pages: 192
Binding: Paperback
Weight: 240 g
ISBN: 978-90-79294-26-8
ISBN-13: 9789079294268
Condition: New

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SHOPIFY

Product type:
Books > Islamic Studies > Aqidah & Theology

Vendor:
Sunni Publications

Collections

Aqidah
Ashari Theology
Ilm al-Kalam
Islamic Theology
English Islamic Books
Sunni Publications
Advanced Islamic Studies
Ibn Taymiyya Studies

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SHOPIFY TAGS

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed, Palmyran Creed, Deconstructing Ibn Taymiyya's Theology, Said Foudah, Sa'id Foudah, Shaykh Said Foudah, سعيد فودة, Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Taymiyyah, ابن تيمية, al-Aqidah al-Tadmuriyyah, Aqidah al-Tadmuriyyah, العقيدة التدمرية, Tadmuriyyah, Islamic Theology, Aqidah, العقيدة, Ilm al-Kalam, Kalam, علم الكلام, Ashari Theology, Ashari, Tanzih, تنزيه, Divine Attributes, Sifat Allah, صفات الله, Tashbih, تشبيه, Tajsim, تجسيم, Tawil, Tafwid, Takyif, Tamthil, Islamic Philosophy, Rational Theology, Abdul Aziz Suraqah, Sunni Publications, English Islamic Books, 9789079294268, Nasiri Books

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URL HANDLE

a-critique-of-the-palmyran-creed-said-foudah

Expected product URL

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GOOGLE / SHOPIFY SEO

SEO title — recommended

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed | Saʿid Foudah

Alternative search-focused title

A Critique of Ibn Taymiyya’s Palmyran Creed | Saʿid Foudah

Die tweede is SEO-technisch interessant omdat iemand die het boek nog niet bij naam kent eerder zal zoeken op Ibn Taymiyya + Palmyran Creed.

Meta description

Shaykh Saʿid Foudah’s critique of Ibn Taymiyya’s Palmyran Creed, examining Divine Attributes, tanzih, tashbih and classical Islamic theology.

SEO NL

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed | Saʿid Foudah

Meta:
Engelstalige kritiek van Saʿid Foudah op Ibn Taymiyya’s al-ʿAqīdah al-Tadmuriyyah over de Goddelijke Eigenschappen en islamitische theologie.

SEO AR

نقد العقيدة التدمرية | سعيد فودة

Meta:
كتاب سعيد فودة في نقد أصول العقيدة التدمرية لابن تيمية ومناقشة مسائل الصفات الإلهية والتنزيه والتشبيه والتجسيم.

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GOOGLE MERCHANT DATA

Brand: Sunni Publications
Publisher: Sunni Publications
Author: Saʿid Foudah
Translator: Abdul Aziz Suraqah
GTIN / ISBN-13: 9789079294268
MPN: 9789079294268
Language: English
Condition: New
Publication year: 2018
Pages: 192
Binding: Paperback
Weight: 240 g
Genre: Islamic Theology / Aqidah / Kalam
Google Product Category: Media > Books

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SEARCH KEYWORDS

Primary

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed
Palmyran Creed
Said Foudah
Sa’id Foudah
Shaykh Said Foudah
Ibn Taymiyya Palmyran Creed
Ibn Taymiyyah theology
al Aqidah al Tadmuriyyah
Aqidah Tadmuriyyah
Islamic theology Ibn Taymiyya
Ashari critique Ibn Taymiyya
Islamic theology books English
Ilm al Kalam books
Divine Attributes Islam

Arabic

سعيد فودة
العقيدة التدمرية
نقد العقيدة التدمرية
ابن تيمية العقيدة
نقد ابن تيمية
علم الكلام
العقيدة الأشعرية
صفات الله
التنزيه
التشبيه
التجسيم

Search synonyms

Palmyran Creed / Palmyra Creed
Tadmuriyyah / Tadmuriyya / Tadmuriyya Creed
Said Foudah / Sa’id Foudah / Saeed Foudah
Ibn Taymiyya / Ibn Taymiyyah / Ibn Taymiyah

Die varianten zou ik bewust opnemen in Shopify Search, omdat juist bij deze titel de Engelse transliteraties sterk uiteenlopen.

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IMAGE ALT TEXTS

1. A Critique of the Palmyran Creed by Shaykh Said Foudah book cover
2. A Critique of the Palmyran Creed Sunni Publications
3. Said Foudah critique of Ibn Taymiyya theology
4. A Critique of the Palmyran Creed back cover
5. Shaykh Said Foudah author biography
6. A Critique of the Palmyran Creed table of contents
7. English Islamic theology book on Ibn Taymiyya’s Tadmuriyyah

Mijn keuze voor de Shopify-hoofdtitel

Ik zou hem niet volstoppen met Ibn Taymiyya, Ashari, Tadmuriyyah enzovoort. De nette producttitel is:

A Critique of the Palmyran Creed | Shaykh Saʿid Foudah

En vervolgens vang je Ibn Taymiyya, al-ʿAqīdah al-Tadmuriyyah, Tadmuriyyah, Ashari theology, Divine Attributes enzovoort op in de beschrijving, tags, metadata en zoektermen. Dat houdt Nasiri Books professioneel én maakt het product goed vindbaar.