Athari creed

E81994

The Athari creed is a traditionalist Sunni Islamic theological school that emphasizes strict adherence to the Quran and Hadith while avoiding speculative theology and philosophical interpretation.

Aliases (1)

Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Islamic creed
Sunni Islamic theological school
alsoKnownAs Ahl al-Athar creed
Atharism
Traditionalist Sunni creed
approachToScripture affirmation of Quranic and prophetic texts without metaphorical reinterpretation of divine attributes
literalist tendency regarding divine attributes
associatedWith Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Hanbali school of law
contrastedWith Ashʿari creed
Maturidi creed
Muʿtazili theology
emphasizes strict adherence to the Hadith
strict adherence to the Quran
geographicalSpread historically prominent in Baghdad and other centers of early Sunni scholarship
historicalContext developed in opposition to Muʿtazilite rationalism
developed in opposition to speculative kalam schools
historicalOrigin early centuries of Islam
influenced later Hanbali theologians
traditionalist currents within Salafi thought
keyPrinciple following the understanding of the Salaf
priority of transmitted texts (naql) over rational speculation (ʿaql) in creed
reliance on Quran, Sunnah, and consensus of the early generations
language classical Arabic
methodology avoids technical philosophical terminology in creed
prefers transmitted reports from early authorities over later theological synthesis
normativeClaim presents itself as preserving the creed of the early Muslim generations (Salaf al-Salih)
rejects kalam-style rational theology
philosophical interpretation in theology
speculative theology
religiousTradition Sunni Islam
scripturalSources Quran
Sunnah
consensus (ijmaʿ) of the Salaf
viewOnCompanions reveres all Companions of the Prophet and avoids delving into their disputes
viewOnDivineAttributes affirms divine attributes as they appear in scripture
avoids asking how (bila kayf) regarding divine attributes
rejects allegorical reinterpretation (ta’wil) of divine attributes
viewOnFaith faith consists of belief, speech, and action and can increase and decrease
viewOnInnovation rejection of religious innovations in creed
viewOnIntercession affirms prophetic intercession with conditions set by scripture
viewOnKalam discourages engagement in speculative theological disputation
viewOnPredestination affirms divine decree (qadar) while maintaining human responsibility
viewOnQuran Quran is the uncreated word of God
viewOnReason accepts reason in its proper place but subordinates it to revelation
viewOnSectarianism identifies with Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaʿah
viewOnSeeingGod affirms that believers will see God in the Hereafter without asking how

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Athari creed ("Ahl al-Athar creed")
alsoKnownAs
Sunni Islam
includesTrend

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