The Issue of Misguidance Among the Mu’tazila: Presentation and Criticism

Abstract

Abstract

The Mu’tazilites (adherents of the Rationalist school in early Islamic theology) adopted a purely rational and abstract approach, which led them away from the correct methodology in their understanding of Islamic beliefs. They built their creed on five fundamental principles, which influenced their thought to the extent that issues of creed were reduced to a set of rational proofs. The Mu’tazilites opposed the consensus of the ummah, selectively citing texts that supported their doctrine and misinterpreting Qur’anic verses to justify their flawed ideas and principles. Consequently, a group of scholars arose to refute them and dismantle their arguments.

This research employs a critical-analytical methodology, examining the views of the Mu’tazila (the Rationalist school of early Islamic theology) and their evidence regarding the issue of Allah’s misguidance of His servants, and critiquing these views in light of the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah (the people of the Sunnah and the community). The study clarifies the concept of misguidance and its types, the Mu’tazilite position on this matter, their supporting evidence, and the scholarly responses to them.

The research concludes that the Mu’tazila contradicted the consensus regarding Allah’s misguidance of His servants, revealing their misinterpretation of textual evidence. It concludes by highlighting that later scholars successfully refuted their claims and clarified the correct understanding of this matter