@article{Salman_2014, title={Mu‘tazila and the theology of Tanzih}, volume={5}, url={https://journal.uokufa.edu.iq/index.php/Kufa_Review/article/view/4507}, abstractNote={<p>In this chapter I shall attempt to set out the metaphysical<br />principle lying behind the theological system of Mu‘tazila as a<br />whole. While agreeing with previous studies that the Five Usul<br />encompass the whole of Mu‘tazila theology, a position also<br />held by the scholars of Mu‘tazila itself – “Nobody will deserve to be called Mu‘tazili until he holds all five usul together [and not separately, not holding this or another one while rejecting that or another one]: Tawhid, Adl, the promise and the threat, the intermediate position, and commanding the right and forbidding the wrong”1 this study suggests that besides these Usul there is an overarching metaphysical principle, by defining which we shall have a better understanding of this theology and be able to explain its elements and put them in their proper context. To achieve this we need to go through a number of steps, the first of which is to define Islamic theology, ilm al-kalam. Muslim scholars use this term to define a specific field of Islamic knowledge. The word ilm means science, and kalam means speech; here, science is not used in the strict sense of the word but as a branch of knowledge. In its traditional form, this ilm is a defensive activity. Muslim scholars also agree that the<br />subject of this branch of knowledge is the divinity, “Its subject<br />is the Divinity [Allah]: it investigates the attributes of Allah and His actions in this world, such as the creation,and in the next world, such as bringing people<br />to judgement”;2 like any branch of knowledge,<br />any field of study, ilm al-kalam has its own<br />subject. In philosophy, for example, the<br />subject is existence, so philosophers have to<br />aim at investigating the nature of existence by<br />means of reason and the senses. The subject<br />to which Muslim theologians have to devote<br />their inquiry is the divinity: to defend their faith<br />in it against the adversaries of this faith. It is<br />said that religion is the story of God; this can<br />be precisely applied to Islam. Ilm Al-kalam,<br />as we have pointed out earlier, is a defensive<br />activity.</p>}, number={3}, journal={Kufa Review (Discontinued)}, author={Salman, Naman}, year={2014}, month={May} }