The Mutazilis, Asharites and kalam Please explain them to me

dianek

Junior Member
I have been reading Karen Armstrong's Book "A History Of God" and have come across the following terms: Mutazilis, Asharites and Kalam and how they apparently took Islam in distinct different ideas, much the way Christians have split off in Chrisitanity. To the extent it seems that they somewhat "changed" the originial context of things. Is there any one here that can explain this further for me?
 

dianek

Junior Member

a_muslimah86

Hubbi Li Rabbi
Staff member
I have been reading Karen Armstrong's Book "A History Of God" and have come across the following terms: Mutazilis, Asharites and Kalam and how they apparently took Islam in distinct different ideas, much the way Christians have split off in Chrisitanity. To the extent it seems that they somewhat "changed" the originial context of things. Is there any one here that can explain this further for me?
assalamo alaikum sister..

well in short..

Kalam is a form of religious sciences..this science seeks religious principles through dialectics..thus it's called the "Elmo El-Kalam"..the word "kalam" literally means "talk" in Arabic

the Mu'tizilis and the Asharites...are schools within the Kalam movement

the Mu'tizilis believe in using ration and reason in defining..describing..and practicing religion..their doctorine focuses on 5 principles in religion (which I personally find weird..as it makes you wonder why it's just 5 principles..or why it's these 5 in specific?)..

the Asharites believe the opposite..they believe that humans are too weak to be capable of deciphering the wisdom of religion or specifically to comprehend the divinity of God..and that human beings can't create..choose..or do anything even with their God-given free-will..as it is limited..

I read about them when I was doing a research for a paper about sects in Islam..what I read made me suspicious of their schools of thought..I honestly get an uneasy feeling about anything does not sound befitting of the authentic sunnah and the Qura'an so that along with what I read got me to that concluding feeling

..also..when reading about the history of these schools you'll find that they had much political influence fed into them..so you should be careful about things like that..

nonetheless..it's good that you are asking questions about what you read..that way you can avoid being misinformed and clarify any confusions you might have..that is very good for you sister :)

wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatu allah
 
salamun alaikum sister

These are the topics from where i running away since last 5 years.This topics are soo deep and also some scholars didn´t understand that and made mistakes. Islam is easy and dont busy yourself now with deep topics.Concentrate yourself other topics which you need in your daily 24 hours life and thats the things which is obligatory upon us to know.

Its a small advise or suggetion from your little bro.
 

Aapa

Mirajmom
Salaam.

I went through two decades of reading stuff. I got confused. I actually met one of the most brilliant minds in the west of Islamic studies and we were ready for me to do a Ph.D with him. Instead I ended up in wild and wonderful West Virginia. What I did was simplify my mind. I read the lives of the wives of the Porphet (swas). I read Bukari. I am now learning about scared law. And attempting to learn Arabic, although my sons tell me I am hopeless.

The posters are correct. Take it slow and easy. Learn the fundamentals first. I spent two years doing nothing but reading the sufi's. I read the major Islamic philosphers...and it helped. The biggest thing that lifted a lot of ignorance was plain simple spending time with other Muslims.

There are many many knowledeable members here. Be patient and they will respond. Remember in Islam we always want to have our sources correct before we say anything wrong. Keep asking the questions because you help everyone when you do.
I respect Dr. Armstrong. I am surprised that she has not reverted.
 

Mabsoot

Amir
Staff member
:salam2:

It is important that you study Quran and Hadith and learn about Tawheed and Aqeedah. Dont worry about the other sects and groups right now, if you concentrate on learning Islam properly, then later you will know why these other sects are not right.

KAlaam, was something frowned upon by the early Scholars, because these people started philosophising and making their own interpretations and ideas of the words of the Quran and of Islam. - This is not what Muslims should do. The People of Kalaam were influenced by Greek Philosophy and concepts foreign to islam. These spawned the various groups. The Prophet :saw: said that this Ummah will split into 73 sects, these groups are from these sects. The saved sect is the Ahlus Sunah wal jama'ah - the people who follow the original Islam, -- the Quran, the Sunnah with the understanding of the early pious generation of Muslims.

Very deep study of the deviant methodologies, would only be undertaken by very well grounded and versed student who have studied Islam for a long time and had thorough understanding of the ISlamic creed. It is done in order for them to better warn against the deviant groups such as the Ashariyyah, Matrudiyyah, --- Sufis, Shias and other groups.

In order to avoid confusion>>

Please read and study the articles and books here:

Fundamental Beliefs in Islam Tawheed and Aqeedah
 
I am surprised that she has not reverted.

Well allah give hidaya whom he want. To understand is not everything, the leaders of quraish also understand quran very well. But sad they didn´t get hidaya because they also didn´t want to be guided.

May allah guide all of us until our death.
 

dianek

Junior Member
Thanks to all responses....just to be clear, I am NOT studying about sects, but rather was reading Dr. Armstrong's book in which they were mentioned and I had never heard of these terms was only looking for definitions for the lay man. And I got it! I have no interest in researching these types of things. I know I need to learn the basics and to be honest I get bored easily with reading "scholarly" material. Maybe I am ADHD, who knows, but I can't stay focused when reading that stuff. Again thanks all!

MIRAJMOM-----in regards to learing arabic......good luck with that! My 5 and 3 year old can talk all day in Arabic/tunisian arabic......I can understand some words and what they are talking about, but I just CANNOT say most of them...my kids think it's funny if I try and end up saying "Mommy...you're ENGLISH NOT ARABIC!!!!" ;)
 

alkathiri

As-Shafaa'i(Brother)
MIRAJMOM-----in regards to learing arabic......good luck with that! My 5 and 3 year old can talk all day in Arabic/tunisian arabic......I can understand some words and what they are talking about, but I just CANNOT say most of them...my kids think it's funny if I try and end up saying "Mommy...you're ENGLISH NOT ARABIC!!!!" ;)

:SMILY303:
 
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