Maturidi

Accepted

ماتريدية

Overview

A school of Islamic theology founded by Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (d. 944 CE) in Samarkand. Similar to the Ash'ari school in defending Ahl us-Sunnah creed through rational argument, with some distinct positions — most notably on the attributes of Allah and on human agency. Predominant in Central Asia and historically the dominant aqeedah school among Hanafi scholars.

Key Beliefs

  • Allah's existence and attributes provable through reason
  • Affirming all of Allah's essential attributes
  • Human beings have kasb (acquisition) of their actions while Allah is the creator of all acts
  • Faith (iman) is affirming with the heart — verbal statement is a condition, not part of iman itself

Scholarly Evaluation

Accepted within Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah alongside the Ash'ari school. Historically the dominant aqeedah school among Hanafi scholars in Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Ottoman world. Minor differences from Ash'ari and Athari on specific theological points do not place it outside Ahl us-Sunnah.

Key Figures

  • Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (d. 944 CE)
  • Abu al-Yusr al-Bazdawi (d. 1099 CE)
  • Al-Nasafi (d. 1310 CE)

Sources

  • Kitab al-Tawhid (al-Maturidi)
  • Ta'wilat Ahl al-Sunnah (al-Maturidi)
  • Al-Aqida al-Nasafiyyah (al-Nasafi)

Parent Group

Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah

Founder

Abu Mansur al-Maturidi

Founded

900 CE