The attributes of God (Ar. ṣifa , pl. ṣifāt, or naʿt , pl. nuʿūt) constitute an important subject in Islamic theology that over the centuries has engendered a great deal of discussion among various theologians, philosophers, and schools of thought, including the Muʿtazila, the Ashʿariyya, and the Māturīdiyya. 1. Philology, grammar, and theology The Arabic word corresponding to "attribute" is ṣifa (pl. ṣifāt), also meaning "qualification," which, along with waṣf (pl. awṣāf), is a verbal noun from the verb waṣafa , "to describe or characterise," or "to ascribe" (a quality or property). With