The Ash'arism View on the Incompatibility of the Finality of Divine Actions with the Tảwhid in Essence and Attributes of Haǡq Taȃla and its Solution from the Perspective of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāʾī
Associate Professor of Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Islamic Theology and Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz,, Iran
prt/prt.2026.70984.1004
Abstract
The issue of the finality of divine actions is one of the important and central issues of Islamic philosophy and theology, which has always been discussed by philosophers and theologians, including the Ash'arism theologians. The Ash'arism deny the finality of divine actions and consider it incompatible with the tảwhid in actions. Now, the main issue of the article is whether it is possible to speak of the finality of divine actions in a way that neither necessitates the imperfection mentioned in the Ash'arism concern nor the futility of divine actions? According to the Allameh's view, God is the agent and the purpose of all actions and objects in the world of possibility; because God is Absolute Perfection, He has no goal outside of Himself, and His agency is the same as His finality, and the finality for such an agent does not entail perfection. In this article, by using a descriptive-analytical method, we explain and analyze the Ash'arism view on the lack of finality in divine actions, while also solving this issue and criticizing the Ash'arism view from the perspective of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāʾī. Allamah, by relying on rational and nǡqli principles and evidence such as intellectual good and bad, divine wisdom, movement, the distinction between the active and the subject end, etc., has criticized the Ash'arism view. Therefore, we can both believe in the finality of divine actions without any flaw to God, and also seek liberation from the abyss of the finality and futility of divine actions.
Forouhi, N. (2024). The Ash'arism View on the Incompatibility of the Finality of Divine Actions with the Tảwhid in Essence and Attributes of Haǡq Taȃla and its Solution from the Perspective of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāʾī. Philosophical Theology, 1(2), -. doi: prt/prt.2026.70984.1004
MLA
Forouhi, N. . "The Ash'arism View on the Incompatibility of the Finality of Divine Actions with the Tảwhid in Essence and Attributes of Haǡq Taȃla and its Solution from the Perspective of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāʾī", Philosophical Theology, 1, 2, 2024, -. doi: prt/prt.2026.70984.1004
HARVARD
Forouhi, N. (2024). 'The Ash'arism View on the Incompatibility of the Finality of Divine Actions with the Tảwhid in Essence and Attributes of Haǡq Taȃla and its Solution from the Perspective of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāʾī', Philosophical Theology, 1(2), pp. -. doi: prt/prt.2026.70984.1004
CHICAGO
N. Forouhi, "The Ash'arism View on the Incompatibility of the Finality of Divine Actions with the Tảwhid in Essence and Attributes of Haǡq Taȃla and its Solution from the Perspective of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāʾī," Philosophical Theology, 1 2 (2024): -, doi: prt/prt.2026.70984.1004
VANCOUVER
Forouhi, N. The Ash'arism View on the Incompatibility of the Finality of Divine Actions with the Tảwhid in Essence and Attributes of Haǡq Taȃla and its Solution from the Perspective of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāʾī. Philosophical Theology, 2024; 1(2): -. doi: prt/prt.2026.70984.1004
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