SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Tanzīh (transcendence) and tashbīh (anthropomorphism). Within early and classical theological thought, debates and arguments concerning notions of tanzīh (transcendence) and tashbīh (anthropomorphism) had a significant impact on the genesis of rational discourses. Within these contexts, the former term, tanzīh, was intricately entwined with the conception of God’s absolute transcendence and pre-eminence; while the term tashbīh retained a rather pejorative connotation as it was associated with the conceptualization and description of God and his divine attributes using human characteristics and qualities as analogues; indeed, the verb from which the term tashbīh is derived signifies the act of likening or equating. Theological movements and schools of thought were defined by their respective positions on the notions of tanzīh and tashbīh, although those who were accused of adopting anthropomorphic positions repudiated such allegations, claiming that they were essentially advocating tanzīh.