Page 37 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

ADNAN OKTAR

Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, the founder of the
Maturidiyyah school, was born in the village of Maturid,
Samarkand, in 238 AH (852 CE) and died in Samarkand in 333
AH (944 CE). His general approach was to employ reason
together with revelation and to interpret verses and hadiths,
when necessary, by using reason. Most Hanafis and Turks fol-
low this school.
Abu al-Hasan al-Ash`ari, the imam of the Ash`ariyyah school,
was born in Basra in 260 AH (873 CE) and died in Baghdad in
324 AH (936 CE). Since his lineage includes the Companion
Abu al-Musa al-Ash`ari, he is referred to as al-Ash`ari. Since he
was affiliated to the Shafi`i school in deeds, his views were
more taken up and disseminated among the Shafi`is. The
Malikis also followed his views. Members of the Maturidiyyah
and Ash`ariyyah schools differ on very few matters.
The Maturidiyyah and Ash`ariyyah schools represent the Ahl
al-Sunnah’s belief. Many other views and schools emerged,
such as the Kharijites, Mu’tazilah, Murjiah, Jabriyyah,
Mushabbihah, and others. These, in turn, have other subdivi-
sions. These groups are not considered part of the Ahl al-
Sunnah.
All of the schools within the Ahl al-Sunnah are in the circle of
truth (haqq) and on the true path. The differences among them
do not cause corruption (fitnah); rather, they bring mercy.
Therefore, those who belong to one of these schools must
also appreciate the other schools of truth.
The schools of truth that have emerged in the sphere of
Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and theology (i`tiqad) do not devi-
ate from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Thus, they do not repre-
sent a new religion, but rather are branches that serve Islam in
the fields of belief, religious observances, ethics and instruc-
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