Censure of Kalam: A Consensus of the Ages
by: Abu Abdallah (sunnipress)
The Salaf al-Salih condemmned Kalâm, very harshly. They are unanimous in their rejection of it, as narrated from the Imams and their students. There is not a single evidence from the righteous predecessors who are known with religious leadership and who took part in Kalâmi discussions or approved of it. Many books have been written on this. Refer to authors like Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Batta al-’Ukbari, Abu Sulayman al-Khattabi, Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami, Abu’l-Fadl al-Muqri, Abdallah al-Ansari al-Harawi, Ibn Tahir al-Maqdisi, Abu’l-Muzaffar al-Sam’ani etcetera.
Here are a few statements from the Imams of the past. These words carry authority with the Ahl al-Sunnah and they provide ample evidence with respect to their agreement in forbidding and censuring Kalâm, whether called: ‘Ilm al-Kalâm, ‘Ilm Usul al-Din or anything else. If it is based upon the foreign ‘knowledge’ of the Greeks and their ilk, it is rejected.
I shall try also to explain some of their statements, clarifying their intended meanings with the Help of Allah. I shall not bother about the authenticity question of the narrations I bring forth, for whoever has little knowledge of the Salaf’s way know that most of it is authentic; and whoever has no knowledge can trace the statements and judge himself.
I remember several discussions wherein people speak in praise and positively about Kalâm, knowingly that the Salaf abhored it and condemned its practioners. However they interpreted part of their statements or all of it, opposing the apparent meaning of theirs. Indeed, they opposed the clear-cut decisive impact of the Salaf. They do that as blind followers of particular callers of today, who cleverly voice the weak and shaky opinions of some late prominent Ash’arites who felt the need to interpret many anti-Kalâmi statements too. With Allah is Help sought!
Kalâm – A Short Overview
What is Kalâm? Kalâm is today usually translated as scholastic theology or speculative theology. It is a way or mode of argumentation and discussion – probably also the reason why it is called kalâm, lit. speech – which finds its origin outside of Islam, nay outside Arabia!
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