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A Critical Analysis of Ibn Taymiyyah’s View on the Relationship between the Ontological Authority (Wilāyat Takwīniyyah)
of the Infallibles and Ghuluww
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Sadegh Javadi1   , Mojtaba Moradi Maki |
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Abstract: (11 Views) |
| The issue of ontological authority (wilāyat takwīniyyah) and its relation to ghuluww (exaggeration) constitutes one of the principal axes of theological dispute between Twelver Shi‘ism and certain Sunni currents, particularly in Salafi readings. Among these, the views and critiques of Ibn Taymiyyah al‑Ḥarrānī have acquired a central position due to their significant influence on contemporary critical discourses directed against Shi‘i beliefs. In his works, Ibn Taymiyyah characterizes many commonly held beliefs regarding the status of the Imams (peace be upon them) and the friends of God as instances of ghuluww and as transgressions of the bounds of pure monotheism. He maintains that attributing any enduring ontological agency, cosmic influence, or supra‑human status to anyone other than God is incompatible with uncompromising tawḥīd. Adopting an analytical‑critical approach, the present study first reconstructs Ibn Taymiyyah’s conceptual framework and examines his principles and arguments concerning the definition of ghuluww, the limits of wilāyah, and the possibility or impossibility of ontological authority from his perspective. It then evaluates these positions critically by drawing upon Qur’anic foundations, narrational evidence, and exegetical and theological views from both Sunni and Shi‘i traditions. The primary objective is to determine whether Ibn Taymiyyah’s judgments and critiques are grounded in a comprehensive and fair understanding of Imami teachings on imamate and wilāyah, or whether they rely on a reductionist and presupposition‑laden reading shaped by his specific conception of tawḥīd al‑afʿāl (divine unity in acts) and the system of causes and effects. The findings indicate that labeling the Shi‘i doctrine of ontological authority as ghuluww often stems from conflating “independent agency” with “agency by divine permission.” From this perspective, Ibn Taymiyyah’s critiques do not accord with the theological foundations of Imami thought. Furthermore, analysis of Islamic sources demonstrates that many theoretical components related to the miracles (karāmāt) of saints and their mediatory role in the bestowal of divine grace are not exclusive to Shi‘i tradition but also have roots in Sunni narrational and exegetical heritage. Accordingly, debates surrounding ontological authority neither establish the presence of ghuluww in Shi‘i belief nor entail a violation of monotheism. Rather, when conceptually clarified, they may contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between divine unity, divine causality, and the status of God’s chosen servants within the Islamic tradition. |
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| Keywords: Ibn Taymiyyah, Imamate, Twelver Shi‘ism, Ghuluww, Ontological Authority (Wilāyat Takwīniyyah), Comparative Analysis. |
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Full-Text [PDF 422 kb]
(7 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/07/1 | Accepted: 2026/07/1 | Published: 2026/07/1
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