The Subject of Synonymy from the Perspective of Ahl as-Sunnah Kalam Scholars

Abstract

This study discusses the subject of taraduf (synonymy) from the prospect of the science of kalam. First, the views of Arab linguists have been presented as the subject is essentially a linguistic problem. In this perspective, the lexical and term meaning of taraduf, the views and evidence of proponent and disputant linguists for the taraduf subject, the emergence of taraduf, the direct causes of taraduf, and the types of taraduf are mentioned. Then, the subject of taraduf has been evaluated within the framework of the views of Ahl as-Sunnah kalam scholars while referring to their studies. The approaches of the stated scholars to taraduf are examined in two aspects. First, some Ahl as-Sunnah kalam scholars are examined in chronological order by showing their views on taraduf, the words they repeatedly accepted or did not accept, and their explanations about these words. Secondly, the terms from kalam studies claimed to be synonyms, such as divinity, prophecy, the hereafter, names and judgments, and existence and knowledge, have been discussed to reveal their differences. Thus, it has been tried to show whether accepting two different notions as synonym leads to a loss of meaning.