Abstract:

The Buyid period (320-454/932-1062) witnessed the convergence of Imāmiyya-Mu‘tazila at its peak. The main reasons for this are the wide currency of rational thought, certain socio-political and socio-cultural conditions, the increasing influence of Imāmī scholars who were of Mu‘tazilī origin, and the exclusion of Mu‘tazila by the ahl al-sunna. Unlike the pre-Buyid period, the Mu‘tazilī influence on Uṣūlī Imāmiyya became stronger and continued during this time. Even though the Uṣūlīs were influenced by the Mu‘tazila on many issues, they continued to defend their former views on topics such as the imamate, badāʾ, rajʿa, taqiyya, but this time with rational methods. The Imāmī Akhbārī, known for their attitude against rational theology, had their share of Mu‘tazilī influence, although not to the extent of the Uṣūlis. The Imāmi influence on Mu‘tazila was limited to the issue of tafḍīl, which is a topic under the question of imamate. This article aims to reveal the dynamics of interplay between the Imāmiyya and the Mu‘tazila in the Buyid period through individuals. In this framework, first of all, the political and socio-cultural structure of the period was described. Later on, the Mu‘tazilites who tended towards the Imāmiyya, the Mu‘tazilites who influenced the Imāmiyya and the Imāmīs who were influenced by the Mu‘tazila were examined. Finally, the intellectual framework of the Imāmiyya-Mu‘tazila relationship was tried to be drawn in general terms. In order to attain a nuanced picture of this relationship, the differences between the Imāmī Akhbāris and the Imāmī Uṣūlis, as well as the differences between the Basran and Baghdadian branches of the Mu‘tazila are taken into consideration. As a method, a distant objective perspective is adopted in the evaluation of ideas and events to establish connections between them.

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