Metaphysical issues in Fahreddin Er-Razî: The example of El-Metâlibu'l-Âliye

This thesis, titled "Metaphysical Issues in Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī: The Example of al-Matālib al-ʿĀliya," examines Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī's understanding of metaphysics, with a particular focus on his work al-Matālib al-ʿĀliya. The first chapter of the study discusses Rāzī's life, the era he lived in, his scholarly personality, his influence on Islamic thought, and critiques regarding his methodology. Rāzī produced significant works in both theology (kalām) and philosophy, and he developed a metaphysical understanding that brought kalām closer to philosophy by reinforcing it with logic. Influenced by major figures such as al-Ghazālī, al-Fārābī, and Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna), Rāzī critically engaged with their metaphysical views. The second chapter investigates the concept of metaphysics within Islamic thought through the traditions of kalām and philosophy. It explains the development of kalām from its early periods, how it gradually acquired a philosophical dimension, and how key metaphysical subjects (such as existence, essence, soul, spirit, and the hereafter) were addressed. The differences between early (mutaqaddimūn) and later (mutaʾakhkhirūn) periods of kalām are highlighted. Furthermore, the metaphysical approaches of Islamic philosophers like al-Fārābī and Ibn Sīnā are summarized in detail, and their influence on Rāzī is discussed. The third chapter focuses directly on Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī's metaphysical thought. His views on the concept of existence, types of being, the definition and scope of essence (māhiyya), the nature of the soul and spirit, and his perspectives on the afterlife (maʿād) are systematically presented. Special attention is given to how Rāzī discusses these topics in al-Matālib al-ʿĀliya, highlighting the methods and arguments he employs, though the detailed proofs are not deeply analyzed within the thesis. Rāzī tends to present multiple perspectives, creating a strong ground for critical discussion. In conclusion, the thesis evaluates the contributions of Rāzī's metaphysical thought to Islamic intellectual tradition. It is demonstrated that his ideas serve as a bridge between kalām and philosophy, leaving a lasting influence on later Islamic thinkers. Al-Matālib al-ʿĀliya is particularly emphasized as a product of Rāzī's mature scholarly period and a significant turning point in the development of Islamic kalām.