Kalam 236828 219518741 2008-06-15T16:44:48Z Plrk 181834 [[WP:AWB/T|Typo fixing]], typos fixed: tazilites → tazilities (2) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{otheruses}} {{Islam}} '''Kalām''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: علم الكلام) is the Islamic philosophy of seeking [[Theology|theological]] principles through [[dialectic]]. In [[Arabic language|Arabic]] the word literally means "speech". A scholar of kalam is referred to as a ''mutakallim'' (Muslim theologian; plural ''mutakallimiin''). There are many interpretations of why this discipline was called "kalam"; one of them is that the widest controversy in this field was about [[Allah]]'s speech. The original scholars of kalam were recruited by [[Hunayn Ibn Ishaq]] (d. 873 AD) for the [[House of Wisdom]] under the [[Abbasid]] Caliph in [[Baghdad]]. ==History== Independent minds exploiting the methods of [[ijtihad]] sought to investigate the doctrines of the [[Qur'an]], which until then had been accepted in faith on the authority of divine revelation. One of first debates was that between partisan of the ''Qadar'' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: ''qadara'', to have power), who affirmed [[free will]], and the ''Jabarites'' (jabar, force, constraint), who maintained the belief in [[fatalism]]. At the second century of the [[Hijri year|Hijra]], a new movement arose in the theological school of [[Basra]], [[Iraq]]. A pupil, [[Wasil ibn Ata]], who was expelled from the school because his answers were contrary to then orthodox Islamic tradition and became leader of a new school, and systematized the radical opinions of preceding sects, particularly those of the Qadarites. This new school was called ''[[Mutazilite]]'' (from i'tazala, to separate oneself, to dissent). Its principal dogmas were three: #God is an absolute unity, and no attribute can be ascribed to Him. #Man is a free agent. It is on account of these two principles that the Mu'tazilities designate themselves the "Partisans of Justice and Unity". #All knowledge necessary for the [[salvation]] of man emanates from his reason; humans could acquire knowledge before, as well as after, Revelation, by the sole light of reason. This fact makes knowledge obligatory upon all men, at all times, and in all places. The Mutazilities, compelled to defend their principles against the orthodox Islam of their day, looked for support in [[philosophy]], and are one of the first to pursue a [[rational theology]] called ''Ilm-al-[[Kalam]]'' ([[Scholasticism|Scholastic theology]]); those professing it were called ''Mutakallamin''. This appellation became the common name for all seeking philosophical demonstration in confirmation of religious principles. The first Mutakallamin had to debate both the orthodox and the non-[[Muslims]], and they may be described as occupying the middle ground between those two parties. But subsequent generations were to large extent critical towards the Mutazilite school, especially after formation of the [[Asharite]] concepts. ==Criticism== The place of kalam in Islamic thought has been controversial throughout history. Many traditional Sunni Muslim scholars have criticized or outright prohibited it, including the well known [[Madhhab|"Four Imams"]]. [[Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man|Abu Hanifa]] prohibited his students from engaging in kalam, stating in his view that those who practice it are from the "retarded ones."<ref>al-Makkee, Manaaqib Abee Haneefah, pg. 183-184</ref> [[Malik ibn Anas]] referred to kalam in the Islamic religion as being "detested"<ref>Dhammul-Kalaam (B/194)</ref>, and that whoever "seeks the religion through kalam will deviate".<ref>Dhammul-Kalaam (Q/173/A)</ref> In addition, [[Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i|Muhammad Shafi'i]] said that no advice on knowledge of Islam can be gained from books of kalam, as kalam "is not from knowledge"<ref>Dhammul-Kalaam (Q/213)</ref><ref>[[Dhahabi]], as-Siyar (10/30)</ref> and that "It is better for a man to spend his whole life doing whatever [[Allah]] has prohibited - besides [[Shirk (polytheism)]] with Allah - rather than spending his whole life involved in kalam."<ref>Ibn Abi Hatim, Manaaqibush-Shaafi'ee, pg. 182</ref> [[Ahmad ibn Hanbal]] also spoke strongly against kalam, stating his view that no one looks into kalam unless there is "corruption in his heart,"<ref>Jaami' Bayaanul-'Ilm wa Fadlihi (2/95)</ref> and even went so far as to prohibit sitting with people practicing kalam even if they were defending the [[Sunnah]],<ref>Manaaqibul-Imaam Ahmad, pg. 205</ref> and instructing his students to warn against any person they saw practicing kalam.<ref>Ibn Battah, al-Ibaanah (2/540)</ref> Today, criticism of kalam also comes from modern day scholars of the [[Salafi]] movement. ==Major kalam schools== *[[Ash'ari]] *[[Imami]] *[[Maturidi]] *[[Murji'ah]] *[[Mu'tazili]] == See also == * [[Jewish Kalam]] * [[Logic in Islamic philosophy]] * [[Kalam cosmological argument]] * [[Madhab]] * [[Qadr (doctrine)]] ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == *[http://umcc.ais.org/~maftab/ip/pdf/bktxt/kalam.pdf Philosophy of Kalam] &mdash; textbook by [[Harry Wolfson]] *[http://www.livingislam.org/k/ki_e.html Living Islam] *[http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/kalam.htm The Kalam] *[http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/cosmological-argument.htm Kalam Cosmological Argument] {{Islam topics|state=collapsed}} {{Islamic philosophy}} [[Category:Islamic terms]] [[Category:Islamic philosophy]] [[Category:Islamic theology]] {{Link FA|he}} [[ar:علم الكلام]] [[de:Ilm al-Kalam]] [[dv:ކަލާމް]] [[es:Kalam]] [[fa:علم کلام]] [[fr:Kalâm]] [[it:Kalam]] [[he:כלאם]] [[mk:Калам]] [[nl:Kalam (islam)]] [[no:Kalam]] [[pl:Kalam]] [[ru:Калам]] [[sk:Kalám]] [[fi:Kalam]] [[sv:Kalam]] [[tr:Kelâm]]