Who are the Ash’aris? (from the book “Ahlus Sunnah Al-Asha’ira translated by Hatim Damra)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim,

The following are passages from the book “Ahlus Sunnah Al-Asha’ira” translated by the faqiru ila Allah (swt)..

Who are the Ash’aris?

 

The term “Ash’ari” is used to refer to those who follow the way of Imam Abul Hasan Al-Ash’ari in their beliefs; not a blind following but rather being guided to it. The role of Imam Abul Hasan (raa) was similar to one who raised high a banner which guided people to the way of the Salaf. Being attributed to the way of Imam Ash’ari is exactly the same as being attributed to Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi’i or Imam Malik (raa) in jurisprudence; as they differed in their methods of deriving rulings but agreed on the sources needed to do so. The same applies to Imam Ash’ari in regards to matters of creed; for he derived from the Quran and Prophetic Sunnah, following those who proceeded him of the Salaf. The reason that people are attributed to him even though he followed a path which was already existant, is that he enlightened this path and spread it amongst the Ummah at a time when the people of innovation insisted on suppressing it.

Imam Tajjud-Din Subki says in his book “Tabaqat”, 3/365: “Be assured that the Imam Abul Hasan Al-Ash’ari (raa) did not innovate a new way of understanding nor did he establish a new school of thought; he merely affirmed the doctrinal positions of the Salaf and defended the understanding of the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh). Therefore, people who accepted this path were attributed to Imam Ash’ari considering the fact that he preached the postions of the Salaf and held firmly to them, while supporting them with proofs and valid arguements. Afterwards, anyone who followed the example of the Imam in his use of proofs to support the beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah, was named an ‘Ash’ari’.”

Imam Murtada Zabidi says in his book “Ithaf As-Sada Al-Muttaqin”, 7/2: “Verily, it should be known that each of the two Imams, Abul Hasan Al-Ash’ari and Abu Mansur Al-Maturidi (raa), did not innovate from themselves a new school of thought or method of understanding the creed of Islam, rather they both affirmed the way of the Salaf and defended the understanding of the Companions (raa). Both of the Imams debated the people of innovation and fiercely refuted them.”

 

Famous Quranic exegetes (tafsir scholars) who were Ash’aris:

-Imam Qurtubi
-Imam Ibn Kathir
-Imam Ibn Atiyya
-Imam Abu Hayyan
-Imam Fakhr Razi
-Imam Baghawi
-Imam Abu Layth Samarqandi
-Imam Al-Wahidi
-Imam Shihab Ad-Din Alusi
-Imam Suyuti
-Imam Khatib Ash-Sharbini

Contemporary Quranic exegetes who were Ash’aris:
-Shaykh Sayyid Qutb
-Imam Ibn Ashur
-Shaykh Sa’id Hawwa
-Imam Sha’rawi
-Imam Wahba Az-Zuhayli

The Imams of Hadith who were Ash’aris:

-Imam Daruqutni
-Imam Abu Na’im Asbahani
-Hafidh Abu Dharr Al-Harawi
-Imam Hakim An-Naysaburi
-Hafidh Ibn Hibban
-Imam Abu Bakr Bayhaqi
-Hafidh Ibn Asakir
-Hafidh Khatib Baghdadi
-Imam Nawawi
-Imam Ibn As-Salah
-Hafidh Ibn Abi Jamrah
-Hafidh Al-Mundhiri
-The Imam of Ahlul Hadeeth, Hafidh Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani
-Imam Sakhawi
-Imam Suyuti
-Imam Qustullani
-Imam Munawi

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