Kelompok Teologi Asy'ariyah, sejarah, tokoh, dan doktrinnya.

Summary

This script presents an insightful discussion on the theological group of Ash'ariyah, its founding by Abu Hasan Al-Ash'ari, and its foundational beliefs. It covers the group's historical context, including its emergence during the Abbasid period, Abu Hasan's transition from the Mu'tazila school, and the key principles of Ash'ari thought. Key topics include the nature of Allah's attributes, human free will, the Qur'an's status, and the treatment of major sins within Islamic belief. The Ash'ariyah school represents a synthesis between extreme orthodoxies and the Mu'tazila, offering a balanced perspective on these complex theological issues.

Takeaways

• 😀 Abu Hasan al-Ash'ari, the founder of the As'ariyah school, initially followed the Mu'tazilah school before converting to Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah and establishing As'ariyah theology.
• 😀 The As'ariyah school emerged during the Abbasid Caliphate under the reign of al-Mutawakkil, who rejected Mu'tazilah and embraced Sunni orthodoxy.
• 😀 Abu Hasan al-Ash'ari was born in Basra in 260 Hijri and later moved to Baghdad, where he spent much of his life and died in 324 Hijri.
• 😀 The main doctrines of As'ariyah include the belief in God's attributes being distinct from His essence, but not entirely separate from it.
• 😀 As'ariyah theology rejects anthropomorphic interpretations of God's attributes (e.g., seeing Allah as having physical limbs like humans).
• 😀 The As'ariyah view on free will balances between the extremes of fatalism (Jabriyah) and absolute human autonomy (Qadariyah). Human beings can choose actions, but ultimately, Allah creates all actions.
• 😀 As'ariyah asserts that the Quran is eternal and not created, countering the Mu'tazilah view that the Quran is created.
• 😀 The As'ariyah school views a person who commits major sins as a 'sinful believer' (fasik), contrasting with the Khawarij (who label them as kafir) and the Murji'ah (who deem sin irrelevant to faith).
• 😀 Key figures supporting As'ariyah include Abu Bakar al-Baqilani, Imam al-Ghazali, Imam al-Shahrastani, and Imam al-Razi.
• 😀 The As'ariyah school is known for its middle path approach, avoiding extremes in theological debates, particularly in the interpretation of divine attributes and human free will.

Q & A

Who is the founder of the As'ariyah school of theology?

The founder of the As'ariyah school is Abu Hasan Al-Ash'ari, who lived in the 9th and 10th centuries. He initially followed the Mutazilite school but later rejected it to form the As'ariyah theological framework.

What historical event led to the emergence of the As'ariyah school?

The As'ariyah school emerged during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil, who rejected the Mutazilite school as the official state theology and reinstated the orthodox Sunni belief system.

What is the main theological difference between the As'ariyah school and the Mutazilite school?

The main difference is that the Mutazilites believed that God's attributes were identical to His essence, while the As'ariyah believed that God's attributes are distinct but inseparable from His essence.

What is the As'ariyah stance on the nature of God's attributes?

The As'ariyah believe that God has attributes (e.g., knowledge, power, will) that are distinct from His essence but not separate from it. These attributes are unique and cannot be compared to human qualities.

How did Abu Hasan Al-Ash'ari view the Quran in relation to God's essence?

Abu Hasan Al-Ash'ari believed that the Quran is the uncreated, eternal speech of God, which is distinct from God's essence but not created. This position opposed the Mutazilite view that the Quran was created.

What is the As'ariyah perspective on free will and predestination?

The As'ariyah adopt a middle ground between the Jabariyyah (determinism) and Qadariyyah (free will) positions. They believe that while humans have the ability to choose their actions, it is ultimately God who creates the capacity for those actions.

How does Al-Ash'ari's view on free will differ from other theological schools?

Al-Ash'ari's view, known as **Kasb** (acquisition), posits that humans have the ability to choose their actions, but God ultimately creates the actions themselves. This differs from the Jabariyyah, who deny human free will, and the Qadariyyah, who affirm it without divine intervention.

What is the As'ariyah's view on the status of people who commit major sins?

According to the As'ariyah, a person who commits major sins remains a believer but is considered a **fasiq** (deviant). This view contrasts with the Khawarij, who regard major sinners as disbelievers, and the Murji'ah, who argue that sin does not affect one's faith.

How did Al-Ash'ari reconcile differing views on the nature of the Quran?

Al-Ash'ari reconciled the debate by asserting that although the Quran consists of words and sounds, it is not created. He argued that it is God's eternal speech, and thus, while it exists as a physical entity (in the form of recitations and writings), it is not a created thing.

Why did Al-Ash'ari shift from Mutazilism to Sunni orthodoxy?

Al-Ash'ari shifted from Mutazilism to Sunni orthodoxy after publicly renouncing the Mutazilite school around the age of 40. This change occurred in response to the political and theological shift during the reign of Al-Mutawakkil, who abolished Mutazilism and reasserted Sunni teachings.