The Problematic Dimension of Takfir in Abu Hanifa

Abstract

In the 2nd century of the Hijri calendar, when various believer groups emerged, the fact that Abu Hanifa, one of the first representatives of rational religious discourse, spoke about the subject of religious issues, means laying the foundations of the Sunni understanding of theology afterwards. Indeed, Selefîlik, Asaira and Maturidite maintained his views. During his lifetime, he drew attention with his different methodological approach to Islamic issues. The fact that Abu Hanifa is one of the prominent names in the rationale of religion and that he maintains his identity/stance in the face of ideas and opinions that can be evaluated as ‘taassup’ once again appears in the issue of “the takfir of the people of the Qiblah.” At this point, his position should be seen as standing in a rather moderate line as the name that first introduced the principle of “not declaring the people of the Qiblah,” which is a surrounding principle for believers. In the context of the debates on the Iman-Amel relationship, the examination of the issue of ‘takfir’ in the center of the ‘takfir of the people of the Qiblah’ obliges the researchers to evaluate it in a separate position. The main purpose of the article is to reveal the identity of the people of Qibla with reference to Abu Hanifa and to discuss who this refers to while focusing on the subject of “Takfir.”