Berhat Cem Oner is a researcher who graduated from Middlesex University in the department of Islamic Studies. The Researcher’s interests are Islamic theology, Usul, methodology and Shi’a studies. Berhat is the founder of Imam Zayd Institute and Imam Zayd Blogs. Imam Zayd Institute aims to offer an accurate and objective analysis and reading of Islamic Studies and then relate it to contemporary issues. Imam Zayd Institute aims to accurately apply Islamic thought to the modern world in a coherent, intellectual and beneficial way for the advancement of humanity.
The doctrine of the Prophet Muhammad’s intercession, mediation and negotiation saving the Muslims... more The doctrine of the Prophet Muhammad’s intercession, mediation and negotiation saving the Muslims on the Day of Judgement is a vital doctrinal belief for the majority of Muslim schools, such as the Ash’aris, Maturidis & Atharis. If this doctrine is textually proven, then surely it is a fundamental part of the Islamic faith due to the strong impact it has on Judgement Day. These mentioned groups who have endorsed this view are united under the denomination called Ahlul Sunnat wal-Jama’a.
In contrast to this belief, the Mu’tazilite school known as Ahl al-adl wa-Tawhid (The People of Justice & Monotheism), the Ibadis & the Zaydi Shi’a argue that salvation is only attained through the correct creed, the fulfilment of the prescribed obligatory good deeds and by abstaining from the immorality and major sins that the Qur’an threatened hellfire with.
The debate & discussion of the possibility of visually seeing God has been a very controversial t... more The debate & discussion of the possibility of visually seeing God has been a very controversial theological, doctrinal & textual debate for centuries between different Muslim groups. On one hand, the schools such as the Ahl al-‘Adl wa-Tawheed (i.e. the Mu’tazilites) alongside the Ibadis & the Shi’a (Zaydis & Imamis) have strongly endorsed the view that God, the Creator, the Necessary Existent cannot be seen or comprehended by the vision of the created because the Creator, the Necessary Being is not bound by that which is created.
In other words, that which is contingent cannot grasp that which is Necessary, Eternal & Unlimited. Yet, on the other hand, the mainstream Sunni groups affirm some level or some sort of envisioning (of God) in the Hereafter, with the Athari school leaning more towards an anthropomorphism & the Ash’ari & Maturdi schools engaging in a higher level of sophisticated kalam (dialectal theology).
Analysis of the Qur'anic usage of metaphorical language in relation to the concept of Mutashabiha... more Analysis of the Qur'anic usage of metaphorical language in relation to the concept of Mutashabihat (ambiguous and/or allegorical verses) related to the subject of God, the Hereafter and Divine actions.
The Anthropomorphist doctrine is advocated by the Salafi school, influenced by Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad b. Abdul-Wahhab. This paradigm is very literalist and violates the intended meaning of the Qur’anic passages due to their heavy literalism, so in the name of literalism, the intended meaning is demolished. In reality, language is full of allegorical expressions and metaphors, but they do not see that.
This style of language is expressed by the author or the writer to effectively, persuasively and eloquently explain the intended point. Again, in the name of “Dhahir” (literal meaning), the Salafist has staunchly and rigidly attributed anthropomorphic body parts to God Almighty, the Creator, the Sustainer and they have claimed locality and physicality for Him despite His transcendence and glory.
I would like to acknowledge & thank Prima Quran for his articulate articles regarding the correct... more I would like to acknowledge & thank Prima Quran for his articulate articles regarding the correct rules and regulations of marriage, as well as Islamic laws related to divorce, through the clear verses of the Qur'an & the practice of the established Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Regretfully, these rules and regulations were subsequently undermined by some later schools of Islamic jurisprudence. I acknowledge the great efforts of my dear friend Abdul-Hamid Rashid from Tajdeed, I acknowledge that he assisted us in the editing of this article. This mater is vital for the benefit and well-being of society because the correct understanding of family, and the laws concerning it are essential for the establishment of a healthy community. Evidently, the culture of family and family law is intrinsically tied to the laws of marriage and divorce. As a consequence, Muslims are obliged to apply the correct Divine injunctions of marital law for the betterment of their communities. Otherwise, as substantiated by examples of misapplication of Islamic law, they will suffer as both at a community level and there will be immense suffering incurred by those individuals at the centre of it. An accurate example of the poor application of Islamic law is seen by the practice of the invalid marriage called Ḥalāla.
To analyse the matter of Shi’a Imamate between the varying Shi’a schools from the Imamiyya & the ... more To analyse the matter of Shi’a Imamate between the varying Shi’a schools from the Imamiyya & the Zaydiyya, the main proofs from the Sunnah regarding the affair of Imam ʿAlī’s Divine designation to political authority are Hadiths; Ghadeer, Thaqalayn & Manzila. Naturally, these textual proofs from the Hadith literature will be examined to correctly understand their implications. The topic of 'Alī b. Abī Ṭālib's Divine designation to political authority is contentious, we will examine the historical & textual validity of this doctrine.
The doctrine of the Prophet Muhammad’s intercession, mediation and negotiation saving the Muslims... more The doctrine of the Prophet Muhammad’s intercession, mediation and negotiation saving the Muslims on the Day of Judgement is a vital doctrinal belief for the majority of Muslim schools, such as the Ash’aris, Maturidis & Atharis. If this doctrine is textually proven, then surely it is a fundamental part of the Islamic faith due to the strong impact it has on Judgement Day. These mentioned groups who have endorsed this view are united under the denomination called Ahlul Sunnat wal-Jama’a.
In contrast to this belief, the Mu’tazilite school known as Ahl al-adl wa-Tawhid (The People of Justice & Monotheism), the Ibadis & the Zaydi Shi’a argue that salvation is only attained through the correct creed, the fulfilment of the prescribed obligatory good deeds and by abstaining from the immorality and major sins that the Qur’an threatened hellfire with.
The debate & discussion of the possibility of visually seeing God has been a very controversial t... more The debate & discussion of the possibility of visually seeing God has been a very controversial theological, doctrinal & textual debate for centuries between different Muslim groups. On one hand, the schools such as the Ahl al-‘Adl wa-Tawheed (i.e. the Mu’tazilites) alongside the Ibadis & the Shi’a (Zaydis & Imamis) have strongly endorsed the view that God, the Creator, the Necessary Existent cannot be seen or comprehended by the vision of the created because the Creator, the Necessary Being is not bound by that which is created.
In other words, that which is contingent cannot grasp that which is Necessary, Eternal & Unlimited. Yet, on the other hand, the mainstream Sunni groups affirm some level or some sort of envisioning (of God) in the Hereafter, with the Athari school leaning more towards an anthropomorphism & the Ash’ari & Maturdi schools engaging in a higher level of sophisticated kalam (dialectal theology).
Analysis of the Qur'anic usage of metaphorical language in relation to the concept of Mutashabiha... more Analysis of the Qur'anic usage of metaphorical language in relation to the concept of Mutashabihat (ambiguous and/or allegorical verses) related to the subject of God, the Hereafter and Divine actions.
The Anthropomorphist doctrine is advocated by the Salafi school, influenced by Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad b. Abdul-Wahhab. This paradigm is very literalist and violates the intended meaning of the Qur’anic passages due to their heavy literalism, so in the name of literalism, the intended meaning is demolished. In reality, language is full of allegorical expressions and metaphors, but they do not see that.
This style of language is expressed by the author or the writer to effectively, persuasively and eloquently explain the intended point. Again, in the name of “Dhahir” (literal meaning), the Salafist has staunchly and rigidly attributed anthropomorphic body parts to God Almighty, the Creator, the Sustainer and they have claimed locality and physicality for Him despite His transcendence and glory.
I would like to acknowledge & thank Prima Quran for his articulate articles regarding the correct... more I would like to acknowledge & thank Prima Quran for his articulate articles regarding the correct rules and regulations of marriage, as well as Islamic laws related to divorce, through the clear verses of the Qur'an & the practice of the established Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Regretfully, these rules and regulations were subsequently undermined by some later schools of Islamic jurisprudence. I acknowledge the great efforts of my dear friend Abdul-Hamid Rashid from Tajdeed, I acknowledge that he assisted us in the editing of this article. This mater is vital for the benefit and well-being of society because the correct understanding of family, and the laws concerning it are essential for the establishment of a healthy community. Evidently, the culture of family and family law is intrinsically tied to the laws of marriage and divorce. As a consequence, Muslims are obliged to apply the correct Divine injunctions of marital law for the betterment of their communities. Otherwise, as substantiated by examples of misapplication of Islamic law, they will suffer as both at a community level and there will be immense suffering incurred by those individuals at the centre of it. An accurate example of the poor application of Islamic law is seen by the practice of the invalid marriage called Ḥalāla.
To analyse the matter of Shi’a Imamate between the varying Shi’a schools from the Imamiyya & the ... more To analyse the matter of Shi’a Imamate between the varying Shi’a schools from the Imamiyya & the Zaydiyya, the main proofs from the Sunnah regarding the affair of Imam ʿAlī’s Divine designation to political authority are Hadiths; Ghadeer, Thaqalayn & Manzila. Naturally, these textual proofs from the Hadith literature will be examined to correctly understand their implications. The topic of 'Alī b. Abī Ṭālib's Divine designation to political authority is contentious, we will examine the historical & textual validity of this doctrine.
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Papers by Berhat Cem Oner
In contrast to this belief, the Mu’tazilite school known as Ahl al-adl wa-Tawhid (The People of Justice & Monotheism), the Ibadis & the Zaydi Shi’a argue that salvation is only attained through the correct creed, the fulfilment of the prescribed obligatory good deeds and by abstaining from the immorality and major sins that the Qur’an threatened hellfire with.
In other words, that which is contingent cannot grasp that which is Necessary, Eternal & Unlimited. Yet, on the other hand, the mainstream Sunni groups affirm some level or some sort of envisioning (of God) in the Hereafter, with the Athari school leaning more towards an anthropomorphism & the Ash’ari & Maturdi schools engaging in a higher level of sophisticated kalam (dialectal theology).
The Anthropomorphist doctrine is advocated by the Salafi school, influenced by Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad b. Abdul-Wahhab. This paradigm is very literalist and violates the intended meaning of the Qur’anic passages due to their heavy literalism, so in the name of literalism, the intended meaning is demolished. In reality, language is full of allegorical expressions and metaphors, but they do not see that.
This style of language is expressed by the author or the writer to effectively, persuasively and eloquently explain the intended point. Again, in the name of “Dhahir” (literal meaning), the Salafist has staunchly and rigidly attributed anthropomorphic body parts to God Almighty, the Creator, the Sustainer and they have claimed locality and physicality for Him despite His transcendence and glory.
In contrast to this belief, the Mu’tazilite school known as Ahl al-adl wa-Tawhid (The People of Justice & Monotheism), the Ibadis & the Zaydi Shi’a argue that salvation is only attained through the correct creed, the fulfilment of the prescribed obligatory good deeds and by abstaining from the immorality and major sins that the Qur’an threatened hellfire with.
In other words, that which is contingent cannot grasp that which is Necessary, Eternal & Unlimited. Yet, on the other hand, the mainstream Sunni groups affirm some level or some sort of envisioning (of God) in the Hereafter, with the Athari school leaning more towards an anthropomorphism & the Ash’ari & Maturdi schools engaging in a higher level of sophisticated kalam (dialectal theology).
The Anthropomorphist doctrine is advocated by the Salafi school, influenced by Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad b. Abdul-Wahhab. This paradigm is very literalist and violates the intended meaning of the Qur’anic passages due to their heavy literalism, so in the name of literalism, the intended meaning is demolished. In reality, language is full of allegorical expressions and metaphors, but they do not see that.
This style of language is expressed by the author or the writer to effectively, persuasively and eloquently explain the intended point. Again, in the name of “Dhahir” (literal meaning), the Salafist has staunchly and rigidly attributed anthropomorphic body parts to God Almighty, the Creator, the Sustainer and they have claimed locality and physicality for Him despite His transcendence and glory.