Historical Models of Heresies Arising from Linguistic Misunderstanding: Al-Hul and Al-Ittihad as a Case Study

Abstract

This study examines historical models of innovations (bid‘ah) arising from linguistic misunderstandings, focusing on the heresy of Al-Hulul (Divine Incarnation) and Al-Ittihad (Union with God) as a case study. It aims to clarify the impact of linguistic misinterpretation on the emergence of these heresies, highlight the relationship between semantic deviation of sacred terms and doctrinal deviation, and emphasize the importance of linguistic sciences in correctly understanding doctrinal texts.

The study employs descriptive, historical, and analytical methodologies and concludes that the emergence of doctrinal heresies in Islamic history was largely the result of linguistic and semantic misunderstandings of sacred texts, coupled with neglect of the methodology of the righteous predecessors (Salaf). Assigning foreign philosophical or rational meanings to sacred terms contributed to the rise of several deviant sects, the most serious of which were the heresies of Al-Hulul and Al-Ittihad. This underscores that the integrity of belief is closely linked to accurate linguistic interpretation and adherence to correct religious understanding.

The researcher recommends that scholars pay particular attention to studies that integrate Arabic linguistics with Islamic creed, in order to uncover the roots of innovations arising from semantic misunderstanding.