Criticism of the Mu'tazilite discourse in al-Alusi's tafsir entitled Rūh al-Ma'ānī

Shihāb al-Dīn Maḥmūd al-Ālūsī (d. 1270/1854), who lived in the late Ottoman period, is known as an exegete, jurist, writer, and poet. Recognized as one of the prominent figures of 19th-century Baghdad, Ālūsī gained significant recognition in the field of tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis) with his work Rūh al-ma'ānī, which was widely accepted by exegetical authorities. Rūh al-ma'ānī is an encyclopedic tafsir in which Ālūsī critically compiles the views of previous scholars using the methodologies of riwāyah (narrative-based), dirāyah (rational-based), and ishārī (mystical) tafsir. This work, which has a multifaceted content, not only presents the views of the Ahl al-Sunnah tafsir tradition but also critically examines the discourses and thoughts of various sects. Among the schools that Ālūsī extensively critiques in Rūh al-ma'ānī, the Mu'tazila holds a prominent place. The exegete directs his criticisms at the fundamental principles of the Mu'tazila, their Qur'anic interpretative methods, and certain sciences related to the Qur'an. Accordingly, the focus of this study is to analyze Ālūsī's criticisms of the Mu'tazilite discourse, which he engaged with for various reasons. The primary objective of the study is to identify Ālūsī's critiques of the fundamental principles that define the Mu'tazila and their hermeneutical methodologies in interpreting and understanding the Qur'an. To examine Ālūsī's criticisms and evaluations of the Mu'tazila, the document analysis method, one of the qualitative research techniques, has been employed. Sources have been reviewed, and the findings have been analyzed using the inductive method. In this context, it has been determined that Ālūsī directs both rational and textual criticisms at the uṣūl al-khamsa (five principles) of the Mu'tazila, except for amr bi'l-ma'rūf wa nahy 'an al-munkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil). Furthermore, Ālūsī's critiques of the Mu'tazila's interpretative methods and some Qur'anic sciences have been identified. His primary reference for these criticisms is the Ahl al-Sunnah theological perspective. In Rūh al-ma'ānī, Ālūsī endeavors to preserve the integrity of the Qur'an-Sunnah relationship within the tafsir tradition, and he takes a firm stance against approaches that disregard this principle by critiquing them through the lens of Mu'tazilite thought.