Abstract

The problem of the divine attributes has been central to Islamic theology. In the Quran, God is ascribed various qualities and actions, but the nature of their relationship to Him is not elucidated. It has therefore been the task of theologians and other thinkers to clarify this matter in accordance with their conceptions of God’s unity (tawḥīd) and transcendence (tanzīh). This thesis examines the discourse on the divine attributes of the early Māturīdite theologian Abū l-Yusr al-Bazdawī, whose aim is to uphold two key tenets concerning this problem: 1) the nature of all attributes of essence and act as eternal entities subsistent in God’s essence, primarily against the Mu‘tazilite rejection of this; and 2) God’s incomparability and incorporeality, mainly against the Karrāmites’ spatialization of Him. His reliance on both tradition and rational argumentation to support his views demonstrates his contribution to the emergence of Māturīdism and at times produces conflict in his thought as he tries to negotiate between these two sources of religious knowledge, resulting in nuanced and unique approaches to certain aspects of the topic.