AlMaturidi

Abu Mansur al-Maturidi was a prominent Sunni Muslim theologian and jurist. He is considered the founder of the Maturidi school of theology, which became one of the main theological schools in Sunni Islam, particularly influential in the Hanafi legal tradition. Al-Maturidi was born in Maturid, a village in Transoxiana, which is part of modern-day Uzbekistan, around the year 853 CE. He is believed to have died in Samarkand in 944 CE.

His theological system, known as Maturidism, sought to reconcile reason and revelation. Al-Maturidi emphasized the role of intellect (`aql`) in understanding religious truths, believing that humans possess the capacity to discern right from wrong through reason, even before divine guidance. However, he firmly maintained that revelation (`naql`), primarily the Quran and the Sunnah, is the ultimate source of creed and that reason complements and confirms it.

Al-Maturidi's major works include the Kitab al-Tawhid (Book of Monotheism), which is a foundational text of his theology, and Ta'wilat al-Qur'an (Interpretations of the Quran), a comprehensive Quranic exegesis. His theological positions often engaged with the Mu'tazilite school of thought, offering counterarguments and defending orthodox Sunni beliefs. The Maturidi school's influence spread widely, shaping the theological landscape of Central Asia, the Ottoman Empire, and parts of South Asia. His legacy is that of a scholar who championed a balanced approach to faith, integrating rational inquiry with adherence to Islamic scripture.