Tashbīh

Tashbīh refers to anthropomorphism or comparing Allah to created things. This concept is considered problematic in Islamic theology for several reasons:

1. It contradicts the Quranic principle of Allah’s uniqueness
2. It can lead to polytheism and idolatry
3. It opposes the idea of Allah’s Transcendence

The Quran presents a challenge in understanding Allah’s nature, as it contains seemingly contradictory descriptions. While it states that Allah is unlike anything imaginable, it also uses anthropomorphic language, mentioning Allah’s hands, eyes, and face.

Islamic scholars have adopted different approaches to address this issue:

1. Tafwid (Delegation): Some early scholars, like Imam Malik, advocated for accepting the descriptions without questioning how they manifest.
2. Ta’wil (Interpretation): Other scholars interpreted anthropomorphic descriptions metaphorically.
3. Tanzih (Purification): Many theologians emphasized keeping Allah pure from any resemblance to creation.
4. Ahl us-Sunnah approach: This method involves affirming Allah’s attributes without distortion (tahreef), negation (ta’teel), questioning how (takyeef), or making resemblances (tamtheel).

In Arabic literature, tashbīh is a figure of speech used for comparison. It has four components:

1. Mushabbah: The object being compared
2. Mushabbah bihi: The object to which a comparison is made
3. Adāt al-tashbīh: The word used to convey resemblance
4. Wajh al-shabah: The shared connection between the compared objects

Tashbīh in rhetoric is classified into four types based on the presence or absence of adāt al-tashbīh and wajh al-shabah: mursal mufaṣṣal, mursal mujmal, muʾakkad mufaṣṣal, and muʾakkad mujmal/balīgh.

Understanding tashbīh is crucial in Islamic theology to maintain a proper conception of Allah’s nature and in Arabic rhetoric to appreciate the nuances of comparative language. The concept highlights the delicate balance between affirming Allah’s attributes and avoiding anthropomorphism in Islamic thought.

Citations:

• Tashbīh | Comparison, Anthropomorphism & Polytheism | Britannica
• The Methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah Towards Allaah’s Names and Attributes
• Tashbīh and Its Various Types – Masjid DarusSalam