The Muʿtazilite Movement (I): The Origins of the Muʿtazila

This chapter examines the origins of the Muʿtazila in the early to mid-eighth century. It begins with a brief overview of the doctrines of the Muʿtazila, showing how the movement became the strongest exponent of ‘rationalism’ in Islamic theology. It then discusses the three angles from which the sub...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Omari, Racha Moujir el (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Oxford University Press 2015
In: The Oxford handbook of Islamic theology
Year: 2015
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:This chapter examines the origins of the Muʿtazila in the early to mid-eighth century. It begins with a brief overview of the doctrines of the Muʿtazila, showing how the movement became the strongest exponent of ‘rationalism’ in Islamic theology. It then discusses the three angles from which the subject of the origins of the Muʿtazila has been approached: the origin of the name Muʿtazila, what it means, why it was given to this group, the history of the movement and the early figures of Wāṣil b. ʿAṭāʾ (d. 131/748–9) and ʿAmr b. ʿUbayd (d. 144/761); and the extent of intellectual continuity between the period of origins and later Muʿtazilī doctrines. It also considers two key characteristics of the Muʿtazila, learning and worship, and their relationship to a quietist asceticism orientation that is not a principled commitment to political neutrality.
ISBN:0199696705
Contains:Enthalten in: The Oxford handbook of Islamic theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199696703.013.31