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Transcendence in the Qur'an and Ambiguities in the Tawhidic Discourses
Abstract
The tawhidic representations of Allah do not adequately resolve the questions of transcendence of God as envisaged in the Qur’an. In constructing their concepts of God, the tawhidic authorizing discourses privilege a few attributes and identify them with God’s essence. In establishing these meta-attributes, they marginalize al-Quddus, a unique signifier of God's otherness. The proposed paper explores the discursive and non-discursive processes involved in this shift in ontological emphasis, focusing on, 1) the ambiguity of the Qur’anic text, 2) the inherent instability of the concept of transcendence, 3) human inclinations toward contradiction, ambiguity, and skepticism, and 4) human hierarchical and authoritarian tendencies.
Discipline
Anthropology
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Sub Area
None