Mutashabih

Mutashabih is a term used in Islamic theology to describe one of the attributes of God that is considered to be similar to or analogous with others. The concept of mutashabih is derived from the Quran, where God is described as having attributes that are both known and unknown, manifest and hidden, and similar and dissimilar to one another.

In Islamic philosophy, the term mutashabih is used to describe the relative nature of God's attributes, which are seen as being analogous rather than identical. This concept is in contrast to the notion of tawhid, or the oneness of God, which states that God's attributes are unique and without comparison. According to Islamic theologians, the mutashabih attributes of God are meant to convey the mystery and incomprehensibility of the divine nature.

The concept of mutashabih has been interpreted in various ways by different Islamic scholars. Some have seen it as a way of acknowledging the limitations of human understanding and the impossibility of fully grasping the nature of God. Others have viewed it as a means of conveying the multiplicity and diversity of God's attributes, which cannot be reduced to a single description or definition.

Despite its technical connotations, the concept of mutashabih has been influential in shaping Islamic mysticism and philosophical understanding. Sufi mystics, in particular, have used the concept to describe the inner, spiritual dimensions of the self and the nature of the divine. Overall, the idea of mutashabih highlights the complexity and richness of Islamic theology and philosophy.