Mutazilism

Mutazilism is a school of thought within Islamic theology that flourished in the 8th to 10th centuries CE. It is characterized by its emphasis on reason and rationalism in interpreting Islamic texts and doctrines. Mutazilis sought to reconcile faith with logic, believing that reason could and should be used to understand God's will and the nature of reality. A central tenet of Mutazilism is the concept of God's absolute justice (adl) and unity (tawhid). They argued that God's justice necessitates that humans have free will and are responsible for their actions, as God would not be just if He predestined evil or punished individuals for acts they were compelled to commit. This led them to reject the Ash'ari position of kasb, or acquisition of actions, which suggested human actions were created by God but acquired by humans.

Mutazilis also held strong views on the Quran. They believed the Quran was created (makhluq) in time, rather than being eternal and uncreated. This was a significant point of contention with other theological schools, who maintained the Quran's eternality. Their emphasis on reason also led them to believe that the attributes of God were not to be understood anthropomorphically but rather as negations of any resemblance to creation. While Mutazilism lost its prominence as a dominant theological force by the 11th century, its emphasis on rational inquiry and its philosophical discussions had a lasting impact on subsequent Islamic thought.