Razavi University of Islamic Sciences Quranic Doctrines 2251-9378 23 43 2026 06 22 An Analytical-Critical Study of the Views of Shi'a and Sunni Exegetes on God's Kayd (Scheming) and Istidrāj (Gradual Seizure), with a Lexical and Theological Approach An Analytical-Critical Study of the Views of Shi'a and Sunni Exegetes on God's Kayd (Scheming) and Istidrāj (Gradual Seizure), with a Lexical and Theological Approach 119 156 2137 10.30513/qd.2025.7215.2597 FA Kāvous Roohi Barandaq Associate Professor, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Farid Bazrafshan Moghaddam PhD Student in Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2025 07 22 God's anthropomorphic attributes in the Quran, due to the use of human-related terms, have always been challenging in the interpretation and analysis of divine attributes – a challenge arising from the fear of attributing reprehensible acts to God or falling into anthropomorphism. This research specifically analyzes the acts of kayd (scheming) and istidrāj (gradual seizure) and examines the possibility of attributing them to God, and with an analytical-critical approach, evaluates the exegetical views of fifteen prominent exegetes from various Islamic schools. In this process, a lexical and Quranic analysis of the two concepts is first presented, then the exegetical views are classified into six approaches and examined based on semantic, theological, and interpretive indicators. The results show that the attribution of kayd and istidrāj to God can be defended on two complementary bases: first, these acts lexically lack inherent repulsiveness; second, even assuming a negative connotation, in the Quranic context, they are real, reactive, and just acts that materialize within the framework of divine traditions of retribution and guidance. Therefore, views that consider these acts as real, wise, and consistent with the system of lordship are more in harmony with the apparent meaning of the verses, monotheistic principles, and rational foundations, while views based on verbal interpretation, mushākalah (assimilation), metaphor, or deterministic foundations lack the necessary conceptual and theological coherence. God's anthropomorphic attributes in the Quran, due to the use of human-related terms, have always been challenging in the interpretation and analysis of divine attributes – a challenge arising from the fear of attributing reprehensible acts to God or falling into anthropomorphism. This research specifically analyzes the acts of kayd (scheming) and istidrāj (gradual seizure) and examines the possibility of attributing them to God, and with an analytical-critical approach, evaluates the exegetical views of fifteen prominent exegetes from various Islamic schools. In this process, a lexical and Quranic analysis of the two concepts is first presented, then the exegetical views are classified into six approaches and examined based on semantic, theological, and interpretive indicators. The results show that the attribution of kayd and istidrāj to God can be defended on two complementary bases: first, these acts lexically lack inherent repulsiveness; second, even assuming a negative connotation, in the Quranic context, they are real, reactive, and just acts that materialize within the framework of divine traditions of retribution and guidance. Therefore, views that consider these acts as real, wise, and consistent with the system of lordship are more in harmony with the apparent meaning of the verses, monotheistic principles, and rational foundations, while views based on verbal interpretation, mushākalah (assimilation), metaphor, or deterministic foundations lack the necessary conceptual and theological coherence. https://qd.razavi.ac.ir/article_2137_4395be1baa2e3af1c7c82f320cb1d091.pdf