Principles of Abu Mansur Al-Maturidi on the Divine Nature

Divine revelation or (wahyi) is the source of knowledge that provides the guidlines for premodern Islamic discussions on divine doctrines. The legitimacy of the Qur'an is universally acknowledged within the kalam tradition, which means that the interpretations of scripture typically serve as the center of theological discussion. According to al-Maturidi, religion should be expounded based on two types of sources, that is Qur'an and Sunnah and reason. When elucidating the interpretation of verses and hadiths regarding the Divinity doctrines, Maturidi resorted to holy scriptures and along with it to reason. The phenomenology of human sensory experience and reason is at the center of the theology discussed in this paper. If the existence of God is proven ontologically, our perception of God will be formulated properly. Accordingly, in Islam, sacred texts generally use human language to inform their readers of the truth about metaphysical existence. This paper explores the Divine nature by addressing two comprehensive questions: an epistemological inquiry into the limits of human language about God and an ontological that is the divine nature itself. In order to review outstanding features of Maturidis stance to the questions, first, the principles of the Maturidi approach to the relation of God to time will be examined; following this, the necessity (wajib al-wujud) of God will be discussed. Finally, Gods own nature will be explored and the conclusion will be made.