Interpretation and signification of the divine words in Fakhr al-Din al-Razi

This study aims to investigate the method of how Imam Fakhr al-din al-Razī's interpretation and signification of the divine words. Signification of the divine word which matters many disciplines -especially Tafsīr- is one of the most contentious issues between Muslims. Therefore it is necessary to uncover the point that Razi stands on since he has been attributed both in positive and negative ways many times by other scholars about the controversial issues such as the uncertainty of scriptural (verbal) evidences, the distinction of muhkem-mutashabih verses and the relation between reason (aql) and revelation (naql). From the viewpoint of Razi, the nature of the word and its indication in an absolute way have been examined in the first chapter by considering his road map and applying to his works he handled on various fields. In the second part of the assignment, the indication of the divine word and its interpretation (ta'vil) have been analysed. The first chapter covers the theory of wad', the distinction between external and internal speech (lafzi and nafsi kalam) as well as the possibility and the nature of linguistic signification of the word. On the other hand, the second section explores the difference between firm and ambigous words (muhkem and mutashabih), the interpretation method of Razi, and the interpretation of some selected verses about ru'yatullah (vision of God) and actions of human beings on the basis of his work Mefatih. The assignment has shown that Razi has followed a way very similar to Mu'tazile's method in terms of form while he has stayed adherent to Ash'ariyya principles in belief.