Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and Approach

Mu‘tazilah was the first rationalist movement in the early history of Islam. While the holy Qur’an was the primary source of knowledge for Muslims to think of oneness of God, His attributes, Heaven, Hell and other metaphorical issues, Mu‘tazilites tried to interpret such dogma in the light of human...

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Main Authors: P.S. SYED MASOOD JAMALI, KHALID WAHEED
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hamdard Foundation 2021-02-01
Series:Hamdard Islamicus
Online Access:https://www.hamdardislamicus.com.pk/index.php/hi/article/view/63
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author P.S. SYED MASOOD JAMALI
KHALID WAHEED
author_facet P.S. SYED MASOOD JAMALI
KHALID WAHEED
author_sort P.S. SYED MASOOD JAMALI
collection DOAJ
description Mu‘tazilah was the first rationalist movement in the early history of Islam. While the holy Qur’an was the primary source of knowledge for Muslims to think of oneness of God, His attributes, Heaven, Hell and other metaphorical issues, Mu‘tazilites tried to interpret such dogma in the light of human reason and contradicted the mainstream Muslim dogmas. The Mu‘tazilites enjoyed a golden period under the patronage of alMa’mun, the Abbasid caliph. However, after withdrawal of the patronage, their doctrine lost ground in the society and gradually disappeared. Nevertheless, their approach of critical thinking still has an impact on modern Muslim thinkers. Rejection of God’s attributes, creation of holy Qur’an, status of grave sinner and creation of human action were significant ideological issues of Mu‘tazilah. Their ideology of freedom and free thought were based on rejection of fate and destiny. This paper attempts to critically analyse the major ideological issues of Mu‘tazilah, in terms of their origin, development and dispute with scholars of AÍl al- Sunnah wa’lJama‘ah. It also discusses contributions of Mu’tazilites and impact of their ideology on intellectuals of later period.
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spelling doaj.art-a4bff4f935d2499eac42a66f0258f6502022-12-22T01:31:57ZengHamdard FoundationHamdard Islamicus0250-71962021-02-01434Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and ApproachP.S. SYED MASOOD JAMALIKHALID WAHEED Mu‘tazilah was the first rationalist movement in the early history of Islam. While the holy Qur’an was the primary source of knowledge for Muslims to think of oneness of God, His attributes, Heaven, Hell and other metaphorical issues, Mu‘tazilites tried to interpret such dogma in the light of human reason and contradicted the mainstream Muslim dogmas. The Mu‘tazilites enjoyed a golden period under the patronage of alMa’mun, the Abbasid caliph. However, after withdrawal of the patronage, their doctrine lost ground in the society and gradually disappeared. Nevertheless, their approach of critical thinking still has an impact on modern Muslim thinkers. Rejection of God’s attributes, creation of holy Qur’an, status of grave sinner and creation of human action were significant ideological issues of Mu‘tazilah. Their ideology of freedom and free thought were based on rejection of fate and destiny. This paper attempts to critically analyse the major ideological issues of Mu‘tazilah, in terms of their origin, development and dispute with scholars of AÍl al- Sunnah wa’lJama‘ah. It also discusses contributions of Mu’tazilites and impact of their ideology on intellectuals of later period. https://www.hamdardislamicus.com.pk/index.php/hi/article/view/63
spellingShingle P.S. SYED MASOOD JAMALI
KHALID WAHEED
Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and Approach
Hamdard Islamicus
title Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and Approach
title_full Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and Approach
title_fullStr Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and Approach
title_full_unstemmed Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and Approach
title_short Mu‘tazilah, the first Rationalist School of Thought in Islamic History: Critical Study of its Ideology and Approach
title_sort mu tazilah the first rationalist school of thought in islamic history critical study of its ideology and approach
url https://www.hamdardislamicus.com.pk/index.php/hi/article/view/63
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