Ash'arites and Maturidites: Their Role in Defense of the Islamic Faith and the Secret of the Spread of their Schools

Abstract

Ash'arites and Maturidites exerted scientific and intellectual efforts in contributing to the spread of Islam and the installation of its rules and teachings in a sensitive and critical period in the history of the Islamic nation. They had a strong argument in the debate with deviant sects that raised suspicions and skepticism in the Islamic beliefs. This research aims to reveal the role of Ash'arites and Maturidites in the protection and defense of the Islamic faith, and in the elimination of sectarian strife and conflict in a legitimate way, by adopting of impartiality and objectivity. This is necessary in reading the history of the sects in general and Ash'arites and Maturidites in particular, and to put everything in place, and give each one its share. The importance of research takes place through the seriousness of the dispute and differences between Islamic sects in the advocacy arena, and the results of the dispute represented in conflict and fighting which hurt and affect negatively on the future of the Muslims. The call is to link the relevant fraternal relationship with the religious foundations between the different sects, and to highlight the common factors as an important hub to collect and unify the Islamic nation. One of the problems faced by the researcher is lack of clarity of the real reasons for the dispute among the Islamic sects; they sometimes appear and disappear. As for the rulers in the past, they have played a big role in igniting the dispute for the purpose of "divide and rule", and to achieve political targets in order to stay in power, at the expense of the interests of the Islamic nation. The researcher found that the Ash'arites and Maturidites had their own efforts in contributing their service to Islam, and that the reasons for the spread of their faith lie in moderation, a spirit of tolerance, gentleness and good dealing with others.