Islamic Timeline of RevelationOpen in flowchart →Ash'ari School of Theology
الأشاعرة
The Sunni theological school of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, a former Mu'tazili who defended Ahl al-Sunnah beliefs using rational argument. Widespread among Shafi'is and Malikis.
Biography
Al-Ash'ari studied under the Mu'tazili al-Jubba'i for years before renouncing Mu'tazilism and aligning himself with Ahmad ibn Hanbal's creed (as stated in his al-Ibanah, according to many). Later Ash'aris (al-Baqillani, al-Juwayni, al-Ghazali, al-Razi) developed kalam, at times interpreting attributes metaphorically (ta'wil).
Debates between Ash'aris and Atharis/Hanbalis over attributes continue.
Sources & explanation
۞ Qur'an
No specific verses cited for this node.
📜 Hadith verified on sunnah.com
No verified hadith attached yet. Only references checked against sunnah.com are listed.
💬 Explanation Unverified
Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's perspective
Methodological note (not a direct quote): Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's widely known approach is to build narratives primarily on the Quran and Sahih Hadith, to set aside Israiliyat (Judeo-Christian lore absorbed into later tafsir) and weak or fabricated narrations, and to avoid sectarian framing. Applied to this node: Presented neutrally.
Empires in their lifetime
- Abbasid Caliphate 750 CE – 1258 CEAl-Ash'ari founded his school in Abbasid Baghdad and Basra.
- Great Seljuk Empire 1037 – 1194 CEThe Nizamiyya colleges spread Shafi'i law and Ash'ari theology.
Further references
- al-Shahrastani, al-Milal wa al-Nihal
- Historical consensus
Connections
Comes from
- Mu'tazilah offshoot — Al-Ash'ari left the Mu'tazila
Linked with
- Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah (Sunni Islam) related — Sunni theological school