A Criticism of Ibn Taymiyya,s Anti-interpretationism

To comprehend and interpret texts, through the history, there have been two currents in parallel to each other:literal exegesis and esoteric exegesis. Salafiyya is one of currents that is proponent of literal exegesis and claims being opponent of esoteric exegesis, owing to Ibn Taymiyya. He defines interpretation in three ways: exegesis, external facts, to paraphrase the statement from the literal meaning to a non-literal one. Ibn Taymiyya accepts the first two types, but opposes the third. Salafis name the third type "Theological Interpretation", considering it an accidental term invented by theologians belonging to the period after Salaf–i- Ummah era and believes that Salaf Ummah neither had such a term nor meant such a meaning. Ibn Taymiyya, s Opposition towards esoteric Interpretation has mostly been embodied in the issue of God, s predicative attributes. In this article we clarify and criticize this viewpoint of Ibn Taymiyya. Criticizing his viewpoint we will point to issue like the incompatibility of his claims to historical facts.