The perception of zindaqa and zenadiqa in the ahl al-sunnah tafsir tradition

In the Sunni tafsir (exegesis) literature, it is occasionally claimed that certain interpretations constitute zindaqa and certain interpreters are zenadiqa. Starting from the discussions on such claims and accusations, this study attempted to address such issues as the perception of zindaqa in the tafsir tradition of Ahl al-Sunnah (Followers of the Sunnah), the causes of such accusations, the way of thinking of those who made these accusations as well as of those who were the object of accusations, and whether these accusations were necessary. The study consisted of an introduction, three main sections and conclusion part, and the introduction part described the subject, scope, aim and method of the study as well as the sources used in the research. The first section, conceptual framework, conducted etymological and semantic analyses on the concepts used in the framework of the study, particularly the concept of zindaqa and its offshoots, later categorised the persons claimed to be zenadiqa, and presented a clear framework for zindaqa. The second section discussed the main issues that were the subject of heated debate and placed too much emphasize on zindaqa claims in Sunni tafsir works, and tried to demonstrate the perception of zindaqa in Sunni tafsir tradition based on the issues discussed. The third section explains the main causes considered to be lying behind zindaqa claims and accusations through examples, and the conclusion part revealed the findings and results of the study.