Classical Theological Schools and the Conception of Divine Wisdom (Ḥikma): A Comparative Study of the Muʿtazila, the Ashʿariyya, and the Māturīdiyya

المؤلفون

الملخص

The concept of ḥikma (divine wisdom) signifies that God’s act of creation is neither ʿabath (futile) nor arbitrary, but unfolds according to a determinate wisdom and order. It has long occupied a cen-tral place in kalām discussions, particularly in relation to the divine acts (afʿāl Allāh). These debates address whether God’s acts are purposive, the extent to which divine wisdom is accessible to human reason, and how ḥikma relates to God’s absolute power. While these issues have been extensively treated in the classical literature, modern scholarship has largely examined individual theological schools in isolation, leaving comparative approaches relatively underdeveloped. This study aims to address this gap by analysing the conceptions of divine wisdom articulated by the Muʿtazila, the Māturīdiyya, and the Ashʿariyya within a comparative theological framework. It examines how each school accounts for the divine acts through key notions such as justice (ʿadl), benefit (maṣlaḥa), divine will (irāda), and debates over causality. The study shows that the Muʿtazila, drawing on ethical rationalism, interpret divine acts in accordance with the principles of ṣalāḥ and aṣlaḥ, prioritising human benefit; that the Māturīdiyya affirm the non-futility of divine acts without reducing them to rational necessity; and that the Ashʿariyya approach ḥikma primarily through divine will and power, maintaining its limited intelligibility to human reason. By comparing these perspectives, the study seeks to contribute to a more integrated understanding of the God–human–cosmos relationship in kalām.

بيانات النشر

DOI

10.31121/tader.1860014

المجلة

Tefsir Araştırmaları Dergisi

الوصول

مصادر البيانات

• unpaywall10.31121/tader.18600142026-07-10T14:51:55.558642+03:00
• openalexW71598293772026-07-10T14:44:21.835524+03:00