Explanation of the author's statement: "As for the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation): they are the mutakallimun (theologians) from the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, and their followers"
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The Shaykh : But the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation) are the mutakallimun (theologians); they are the mutakallimun (theologians) from the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, and their followers.
And our saying "and their followers" includes those who followed them completely and those who followed them partially, such as the Asha'irah. Indeed, the Asha'irah are, without doubt, among the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation).
Know that they named themselves the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation) in order to deceive people and call them to their school of thought. In reality, they are the people of tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), the people of tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning). This is because the ta'wil (figurative interpretation) they intend is diverting speech from its apparent meaning to a meaning that contradicts the apparent meaning. And if there is no evidence for this, it is tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning).
And this is what actually happens in their school of thought, for they took the chapter of the names and attributes of Allah in a direction that has no evidence for it; rather, the evidence is for the opposite.
Naming themselves the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation) is a matter of beautification, softening, and deception. It is well known that if they named themselves the people of tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), they would not be able to do so, for people would turn away from them. But "people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation)" is undoubtedly softer and gentler, and does not cause people to turn away.
Now, who are the Jahmiyyah? Followers of whom?
The student: Jahm ibn Safwan.
The Shaykh : And the Mu'tazilah? Followers of Wasil ibn 'Ata, and their followers from the various sects. So everyone who engages in ta'wil (figurative interpretation) regarding any of the attributes or names of Allah falls within this category.
And our saying "and their followers" includes those who followed them completely and those who followed them partially, such as the Asha'irah. Indeed, the Asha'irah are, without doubt, among the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation).
Know that they named themselves the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation) in order to deceive people and call them to their school of thought. In reality, they are the people of tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), the people of tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning). This is because the ta'wil (figurative interpretation) they intend is diverting speech from its apparent meaning to a meaning that contradicts the apparent meaning. And if there is no evidence for this, it is tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning).
And this is what actually happens in their school of thought, for they took the chapter of the names and attributes of Allah in a direction that has no evidence for it; rather, the evidence is for the opposite.
Naming themselves the people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation) is a matter of beautification, softening, and deception. It is well known that if they named themselves the people of tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), they would not be able to do so, for people would turn away from them. But "people of ta'wil (figurative interpretation)" is undoubtedly softer and gentler, and does not cause people to turn away.
Now, who are the Jahmiyyah? Followers of whom?
The student: Jahm ibn Safwan.
The Shaykh : And the Mu'tazilah? Followers of Wasil ibn 'Ata, and their followers from the various sects. So everyone who engages in ta'wil (figurative interpretation) regarding any of the attributes or names of Allah falls within this category.