Approach to Theological Verses

One of the most distinctive features of Mafatih al-Ghayb is ar-Razi's systematic engagement with verses touching on divine attributes, the nature of God, eschatology, and the unseen. His Ash'ari theological commitments shape every aspect of his exegetical approach to these passages, and understanding his methodology is essential for any serious reader.

Ar-Razi consistently applies the Ash'ari principle of tanzih — affirming the absolute transcendence and incomparability of Allah — when interpreting verses that describe divine attributes in seemingly anthropomorphic terms. For verses such as those mentioning the Hand of Allah, His Face, or His settling over the Throne (istawa), ar-Razi employs ta'wil (allegorical interpretation), arguing that the apparent literal meaning would imply corporealism (tajsim) incompatible with divine unity and transcendence. This position distinguishes him sharply from Hanbali scholars who preferred affirmation without interpretation (ithbat bila ta'wil).

For the famous Verse of the Throne (Ayat al-Kursi, 2:255), ar-Razi's commentary extends across many pages. He provides a detailed philosophical analysis of divine knowledge, the relationship between the Kursi and divine omniscience, and the meaning of divine wakefulness and slumber — arguing that these must be understood as negations of deficiency rather than positive descriptions implying time or change. He draws on Aristotelian categories of potentiality and actuality to explain why an eternal, self-subsistent being cannot be subject to fluctuations of attention.

On the question of the Quran's createdness — the famous Mu'tazili position — ar-Razi articulates the Ash'ari distinction between the eternal Kalam an-Nafsi (the divine speech as an attribute subsisting in the divine essence) and the Kalam al-Lafzi (the expressed, articulated words). This distinction allowed him to hold that the Quran as divine speech is eternal while the ink, paper, and human pronunciation of its words are created — a position he defends at length against both Mu'tazili and literalist critiques.

The rational dimension of ar-Razi's approach to theological verses made his tafsir a primary resource for later mutakallimun while also drawing criticism from traditionalist scholars who felt that rational speculation introduced unnecessary ambiguity into clear scriptural affirmations. This tension within his legacy has continued to animate debate in Islamic intellectual history.