Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin's Linguistic Arguments for Doctrinal Issues:Sharh al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah as a Case Study

Abstract

Abstract

This study examines the linguistic arguments employed by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) in addressing doctrinal issues through his commentary on al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah. It aims to highlight the significance of linguistic reasoning in matters of Islamic creed, identify the linguistic features upon which Ibn Uthaymin relied in establishing doctrinal positions, and examine the extent to which he employed linguistic principles to affirm the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah in his commentary on al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah.

The study adopts descriptive, inductive, and deductive methodologies.

The findings reveal that Ibn Uthaymin relied extensively on various linguistic structures and principles, including restrictive constructions, the syntactic attachment of prepositional phrases, adverbial usage, emphatic oaths, fronting for emphasis, and other linguistic devices. His effective utilization of these forms of linguistic reasoning established him as one of the leading scholars in this methodological approach. The study further concludes that many linguistic structures are suitable for supporting doctrinal arguments and that his analyses are profound, methodologically sound, and consistent with the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah.

The study recommends giving greater scholarly attention to the methodology of Sunni scholars in employing the Arabic language to serve Islamic creed and encouraging researchers to strengthen the integration between Arabic linguistic studies and Islamic sciences—particularly theology—to achieve a deeper understanding of revealed texts and doctrinal issues.