Thinker · TH-0048
al-Māturīdī
Abu Mansur al-Maturidi was a theologian of Samarqand in Central Asia whose school, the Maturidiyya, became with the Ash'ariyya one of the two main…
On the Coordinates: 3.2.6 Divine Command Approaches
أبو منصور الماتريدي
Also known as Abu Mansur al-Maturidi
d. 944 · Samarqand
Traditions: Islamic
Schools: Kalam
Abu Mansur al-Maturidi was a theologian of Samarqand in Central Asia whose school, the Maturidiyya, became with the Ash'ariyya one of the two main schools of Sunni kalam, especially among Hanafis. He gave reason a larger role than al-Ash'ari did: human reason can recognise some moral values and elementary duties, including the obligation to know God, while revelation remains necessary for fuller moral and religious guidance.
Key ideas
- Reason can recognise some goods and evils and some basic duties without revelation.
- Revelation completes and specifies what reason grasps only in outline.
- Human beings have genuine choice in their acts, which God creates.
- Knowledge comes through the senses, reliable reports and reason.
Major works
- Kitāb al-Tawḥīd (Book of Divine Unity)
- Taʾwīlāt al-Qurʾān (Taʾwīlāt ahl al-sunna, Qur'an commentary)
In the conversation
- Debate The lazy argument fails against tawakkul just as it failed against the Stoics
- Question If morality depends on God, what is my atheist friend doing when she keeps her promises?
- Question What exactly is kasb (acquisition), and is it just compatibilism with God in it?
- Discussion Mu’tazilis, al-Māturīdī and Aquinas: three ways of saying reason can see part of the moral law
- Debate The Mu’tazila were right: reason can know that injustice is wrong before any revelation
- Debate Kasb is a real distinction, not a verbal escape: the Ash’ari answer deserves a hearing
In the Coordinates
The questions of philosophy where al-Māturīdī takes a place, from The Coordinates of Thought.
- 3.2.6 Divine Command Approaches How does a command create an obligation?