The Term "Ma‘nā" in Islamic Theology (Meaning, Proof, Critique)

The term "Ma‘nā" is one of the most important and key technical terms in the classical Islamic theology, which has been used extensively in various theological issues and discussions. Despite the importance and widespread use of this term in islamic theology, its meaning and concept has been involved with much ambiguity and obscurity, and its real meaning has become a controversial question in contemporary theological research. In response to this question, remarkable articles and research have been published so far, and various opinions and theories have been put forward about the meaning of the term. In the present article, in addition to a brief review of previous research on this issue, points are made about the meaning of this term and then the arguments of the believers in the theory of Ma‘ānī and the questions raised by the opponents of the theory are explained.