Kalām
Definition
Kalam is the discipline of Islamic scholastic theology — the use of rational argumentation to defend and articulate Islamic doctrine against philosophical and sectarian challenges. Al-Ghazali has a complicated relationship with kalam: he was one of its greatest masters, but he also believed that for most Muslims it was more spiritually dangerous than useful. He worried that kalam trained people to debate propositions rather than to live them, and that exposure to the arguments could shake weak faith rather than strengthen it. His prescription: ordinary Muslims should learn simple, clear doctrine without excessive rational elaboration.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Kalām.
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"paraded among the tribes and clans, and it should be said, 'This is the reward for abandoning the Quran and Sunnah and engaging in kalam. Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, "The one who engages in kalam will never succeed, and you hardly ever see anyone delve into kalam except that there is something corrupt in his heart. He criticized it strongly, even boycotting Al-Harith al-Muhasibi because of his writings refuting innovators."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 2: The Book of Belief
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"'The name is the named or something else,' bear witness that he is a man of kalam and has no religion." Al-Za'farani reported that al-Shafi'i said, "My judgment on the people of kalam is that they should be beaten with palm branches, paraded among the tribes and clans, and it should be said, 'This is the reward for abandoning the Quran and Sunnah and engaging in kalam."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 2: The Book of Belief
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"Malik also said, "The testimony of the people of innovation and whims is not permissible. Some of his companions interpreted this to mean that by 'people of whims', he was referring to the people of kalam, whatever their doctrine. Abu Yusuf said, "Whoever seeks knowledge through kalam becomes a heretic." Hasan advised, "Do not argue with the people of whims, do not sit with them, nor listen to them."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 2: The Book of Belief
Appears in
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