Exploring Reports of Corporeality and Anthropomorphism among Early Twelver Shia, with Emphasis on Mu'min al-Taq, Hisham ibn Hakam, and Hisham ibn Salim

The aim of this research is to explore the reports that indicate the belief of the early Twelver Shia in corporeality and anthropomorphism. Among these Shia individuals, corporeality and anthropomorphism have been attributed to Mu'min al-Taq, Hisham ibn Hakam, and Hisham ibn Salim. Thus, considering, the kinship and the close relationship between the early Shi'as and the Imams and the exceptional importance of the issue of corporeality and anthropomorphism in theology, we seek to investigate the reports from both Sunni and Shi'a sources through using a descriptive-analytical method. The findings reveal that Sunni reports on this matter are conflicting, while the reliability and substantiation of the Shia sources are found to be inadequate, conflicting with the authentic reports that reject the notion of corporeality and anthropomorphism. It appears that individuals such as Mu'min al-Taq and the two Hishams, who were knowledgeable in theological issues, endeavored to offer a meticulous elucidation of the essence and attributes of God and resolve conflicts, such as those arising from the hadiths regarding the creation of Adam (a). Their intention was to convey a more accurate meaning in explaining the essence and attributes of God, contrary to simple metaphorical interpretations of anthropomorphism.