أبو الحسن الأشعري

al-Ash'ari (RH)

Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari

Also known as: Ashari, Imam al-Asy'ari

260–324 AH · 874–936 CE

Sufism & Theology Theology

Founder of the Ash'ari school of theology, one of the two main Sunni schools of 'aqidah.

A descendant of the Companion Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, he studied for many years under the Mu'tazili master al-Jubba'i in Basra and became a leading Mu'tazili himself. Around the age of forty he publicly renounced Mu'tazilism in the mosque of Basra and dedicated himself to defending the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah.

He used rational argument (kalam) in defence of positions held by the hadith scholars. The resulting Ash'ari school, along with the Maturidi school, became the mainstream of Sunni theology. It was later taught by figures such as al-Juwayni and al-Ghazali. His works include al-Ibana 'an Usul al-Diyana and Maqalat al-Islamiyyin.

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