Abstract:

Abstract enThe Murji’a has been mentioned as a separate main Islamic theological sect, and classified with its sub-sects in the classic and modern Islamic heresiographical sources. Some significant scholars of Islamic thought such as Abū Hanīfa, even if they did not approve, were described as members of this sect. But there is an ambiguity about its founder, prominent figures, and the views of Murji’a, which raises some doubts stated to some extend in the classic and contemporary studies. From this point, the author of this article aims to examine the concept of “irjā’”, and the relevant persons and issues, and then attempts to determine the views of Abū Mansūr al-Māturīdī on the subject. In the article, the concept of Irjā’ is studied in terms of linguistics and its meanings given by different groups. After conceptual examining, the persons who were described as Murjī’īs and their ideas are discussed in a critical way. The conclusion, which the author reaches, demonstrates the difficulty of recognition of Murji’a as a separate sect. Similarly al-Māturīdī, whose views are referred in the article, points out this difficulty, and expresses his doubts regarding the sect and the people attributed to it. All these are discussed in this article to reach some conclusions.

Keywords: