Moses Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher in the 12^th century, developed his theory of attributes in his philosophical work, The Guide of the Perplexed (Dalālat al-ḥāʾirīn) in part one, chapters 50 to 69. He insists that man can understand neither His essence nor His attributes through a positive description of God. His theory is referred to as ‘negative theology,’ which includes his criticism on Christian theology and Islamic Kalām. On reviewing the Guide I: 53-54, this essay examines Maimonides' theory of attributes from a viewpoint of actions of God.
In this essay, firstly, I will survey Maimonides' general view on his theory of attributes. Secondly, Maimonides' view on the essence of God and His attributes will be examined by perusing the Guide I: 53-54. Thirdly, Maimonides' understanding on the essence of God and His attributes through the response between Moses and God will be discussed. Fourthly, I will focus on the shelosh-esreh middot, and consider how Maimonides leads his readers to practice both ethical and virtuous conducts by acquiring the knowledge of actions of God. Lastly, I will examine the significance of Maimonides' theory of attributes by analyzing the meaning of attributes of God’s action through Maimonides' fivefold classification of attributes.

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