Salafism in the Exegetic Approach of Ibn Kathir, from the Popularity to Reality with the Pivot on Tawhid Issue

The contemporary Salafis refer to Ibn Kathir as a prefect Salafi exegete. With the pivot of Tawhid (Oneness of God) as the basic area in Salafi school, this note quarrels with this claim. With studying Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, it reveals that there are absolute or partial disagreement between the interpretative approach of Ibn Kathir and the particular Salafi comprehension about some aspects of theoretical and practical Tawhid. With selecting the full giving authorized (tafviz)interpretative school in the interpretation of God’s attributes, he has tended towards the attitudes of the late (modern) ʾAshʿarīyya as one of the schools vs Salafism. Moreover, Ibn Kathir’s determination of Tawhid al’Ibadi (Tawhid in worship) and its requirements through his Tafsir cannot accord with the special approach and exclusive approach of Salafis. His perception of whole aspects of Tawhid issue reinforces this claim that he has inclined toward ʾAshʿarī School after death ofIbn Taymiyyah; as for proving Ibn kathir’s Ashariyya way, the considerable historical documents have been presented.