Reconstructing Qur’anic Ontology: A Critique of Classical Islamic Theology and Its Epistemic Foundations

Abstract

This study critically examines the overlooked aspect of Qur'anic ontology in Islamic scholarship, focusing on the epistemic fallacies that arise from the adoption of Greek metaphysical concepts within classical Islamic theology. The paper argues that traditional Islamic ontologies, particularly those formulated by the Mu‘tazilites and Ash‘arites, erroneously equate divine attributes and being with concepts derived from Aristotelian metaphysics, leading to a fundamental misinterpretation of the Qur’anic teachings. Specifically, the study delineates the Qur’anic ontological framework, positing that creation (Khalq) and command (Amr) are the two fundamental categories of existence, both emanating from Allah as the absolute Originator. This contrasts with the classical dichotomy of Qadim (eternal) and hadith (created) imposed by Greek-influenced theological systems. The research highlights the implications of these misinterpretations, including the problematic conflation of Allah’s essence with attributes, and the debates over the eternity versus createdness of the Qur’an. The study also critiques the translation and exegesis of key Qur’anic terms like Al-Haqq (The Truth) and the theological consequences of their misinterpretation, particularly in relation to the concept of divine interventionism and cosmology. By revisiting the Qur’anic categories of Khalq and Amr, the paper offers a more accurate ontological framework that could reconcile Qur’anic teachings with modern scientific cosmology, proposing that the traditional Ash‘arite ontology impedes this reconciliation. Ultimately, the research advocates for a revision of traditional Islamic theology, rooted in a proper understanding of Qur'anic ontology, to resolve longstanding theological contradictions and to construct a coherent relationship between Islam and science.