Maturidi school’s scientific and polemical methodology against religious sects

This study examines the scientific, historical, and polemical methodology of Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (859–944) within classical Islamic theology, focusing on its epistemological and rational foundations. Using a historical-analytical and comparative textual approach, it analyzes his refutation of theological groups such as the Muʿtazila, Kharijites, Batiniyya, and Qaramiya, alongside his defense of the Ahl al-Sunnah creed. Primary sources, including Kitab al-Tawhid and Ta’wilat al-Qur’an, are examined in light of their authenticity and transmission, while selected recent English-language studies contextualize Maturidi’s thought within contemporary kalam and philosophy of religion. The study demonstrates how Maturidi integrates Qur’anic exegesis, hadith-based reasoning, and rational argumentation to construct a coherent theological system. By bridging classical and modern scholarship, this research contributes to the limited literature on Maturidi’s rational methodology, particularly in post-Soviet academic contexts. It further highlights the relevance of his approach for addressing contemporary theological and philosophical challenges and suggests directions for future comparative research within Islamic theology.