Ibn Taymiyyah’s critiques on the theological and philosophical solutions of the problem of creation

Abstract

In the history of Islamic intellectual development, the problem of the creation of the universe was seen in two different orientations. The theologians used their theological stance supported by the Srciptural evidence and the rational argumentations, whereas the philosophers advanced their solutions with the aid of philosophical idea especially the Aristotelian philosophy made available to philosophical ideas especially the Aristotelian philosophy made available to them each side focused upon its own intellectual discipline. Both are presented in a compartmentalized manner. Ibn Taymiyyah, the Neo-Hanbalite theologian of the 14th Century A. D. rejected both the philosophers’ theory of emanation and the Ash’arites position in maintaining the theory of creation. In this regard Ibn Taymiyyah is in favour of the theological solutions of the problem, however he disagreed with the argumentions presented by the Ash’arites. This article will discuss issues and arguments offered by Ibn Taymiyyah to the problem at issue