Analogy and Figures of Speech in the Interpretation of Common Human and Divine Attributes within Mahaseno Ta’vil

The interpretation of common human and divine attributes is one of the basic problems in Islamic philosophy and theology. Commentators, like philosophers, are not consistent in interpreting these attributes and have interpreted them differently. Jamaluddin Ghasemi, a well-known commentator on Salafism, takes a special approach to interpreting common human and divine attributes. Judging the veracity of Ghasemi's beliefs in interpreting the attributes seems difficult since in his interpretation, by quoting extensively the words of his predecessors, he seeks the unequivocal approval of positivism. On the other hand, his desire for the interpretation of figures of speech and interest in Zamakhshari and Alusi's views are at odds with his positivism. He downplays the seriousness of Ibn-e Taymiyyah’s denial of metaphorical expression, alleviates the problem in his view of the physicality of the divine essence, and even aims to render the difference between the deniers and believers of metaphorical expression a verbal one. The affirmation of some attributes using “Balakeif” rule, interpretation of attributes and the tendency to approximate positivism to interpretation represent a distinctive feature between the two groups of the attributes, and based on the differences among the attributes, he talks about them by alterantively using analogy (similar but different simultaneously) and metaphorical expression.