SEMANTIC ANALYSES FROM THE THEOLOGICAL CONCEPT OF IMAM EL-MATURIDI: EXAMPLE OF CONCEPTS ON 'RELIGION & SHARIA & TRUE RELIGION & ISLAM'

Al-Maturıdı, the most important representative of the sect of the Ahl al-Sunnah, was born in Transoxania which hosts to various religions, beliefs, ideologies, cultures and civilizations. Al-Maturıdı had lived in the period in which had occurred religious, philosophical and political thoughts as well as harmful and destructive thoughts from both inside and outside. Additionally, the great Islamic scholar, haveresponsibility towards beliefs and values of the society, has defended the principles of Islamic faith against the attacks which came from both inside and outside of Islam. In this mentioned attempt, Al-Maturıdı who primarily clarifies the basic religious concepts such as religion, sharia, and naskh/abrogation as well as true religion and false religion, has built his understanding of religion based on tawhid/monotheistic on the mentioned concepts. In this context, the aim of the article is to analyze Maturıdı’s semantic interpretations regarding the mentioned concepts and trying to determine his understanding of religion in general terms.