Traditionalist theology (Arabic: الأثرية—al-Athariyyah) is an Islamic scholarly movement, originating in the late 8th century CE, who reject philosophical and extreme rationalistic Islamic theology (kalam) in favor of strict textualism in interpreting the Quran and hadith like early generations of Muslim. The name derives from "tradition" in its technical sense as a translation of the Arabic word hadith. It is also sometimes referred to by several other names. The four imams of Sunni Islam (Abu Hanifah, Malik, ash-Shafi'i, and Ahmad) are considered to have been followers of traditionalist theology.Adherents of traditionalist theology believe the zahir (literal, apparent) meaning of the Qur'an and the hadith along with understanding of early generations of Muslim are the sole authorities in matters of belief and law; and that the use of rational disputation is forbidden. They mostly engage in a literal reading of the Qur'an using classical interpretation of Sahaba, Tabi'in, Tabi'ut Tabi'in and Imam Madhhab, as opposed to one engaged in personal ‘metaphorical interpretation’ (ta'wil). They do not attempt to conceptualize the meanings of the Qur'an rationally, and believe that realities should be consigned to God alone (tafwid). In essence, the text of the Qur'an and Hadith is accepted without asking "how" (i.e. "Bi-la kayfa").
Traditionalist theology emerged among hadith scholars around the time of Malik ibn Anas (b. 711–d. 795) and coalesced into a movement called ahl al-hadith under the leadership of Ahmad ibn Hanbal (b. 780–d. 855). In matters of faith, they were pitted against Mu'tazilites and other theological currents, condemning many points of their doctrine as well as the rationalistic methods they used in defending them. In the tenth century al-Ash'ari and al-Maturidi found a middle ground between Mu'tazilite rationalism and Hanbalite literalism, using the rationalistic methods championed by Mu'tazilites to defend most tenets of the traditionalist doctrine. Although the mainly Hanbali scholars who rejected this synthesis were in the minority, their emotive, narrative-based approach to faith remained influential among the urban masses in some areas, particularly in Abbasid Baghdad.While Ash'arism and Maturidism are often called the Sunni "orthodoxy", traditionalist theology has thrived alongside it, laying rival claims to be the orthodox Sunni faith. In the modern era it has had a disproportionate impact on Islamic theology, having been appropriated by Wahhabi and other traditionalist Salafi currents and spread well beyond the confines of the Hanbali school of law.
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