ashʿarism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Specialist Term)Technical/Academic/Religious
Quick answer
What does “ashʿarism” mean?
A major school of Islamic theology, founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ashʿari in the 10th century, that reconciles reason with revelation and defends traditionalist beliefs using rational argumentation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major school of Islamic theology, founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ashʿari in the 10th century, that reconciles reason with revelation and defends traditionalist beliefs using rational argumentation.
The theological system and intellectual tradition stemming from al-Ashʿari's teachings, which became dominant in Sunni Islam, emphasising a middle path between pure literalism and extreme rationalism on matters like God's attributes, free will, and causality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is identical and used in the same contexts. Spelling 'Ashʿarism' (with a medial apostrophe/ayn character) is standard in academic writing in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral and descriptive in both contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both general language. Usage is confined to specialised academic or theological discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “ashʿarism” in a Sentence
Ashʿarism flourished in...The doctrines of Ashʿarism...Scholars distinguish Ashʿarism from...to convert to AshʿarismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ashʿarism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scholar was accused of Ashʿarising the traditional creed.
- Theologians debated how to properly Ashʿarise the doctrine of predestination.
American English
- The scholar was accused of Ashʿarizing the traditional creed.
- Theologians debated how to properly Ashʿarize the doctrine of predestination.
adverb
British English
- The text interprets the attribute Ashʿarily, not literally.
- He argued Ashʿarily, using reason to defend tradition.
American English
- The text interprets the attribute Ashʿaristically, not literally.
- He argued Ashʿaristically, using reason to defend tradition.
adjective
British English
- The Ashʿarite position gained official support.
- His argument was distinctly Ashʿari in its methodology.
American English
- The Ashʿarite position gained official support.
- His argument was distinctly Ashʿari in its methodology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in religious studies, history, and Middle Eastern studies papers. e.g., 'Her dissertation explores the influence of Ashʿarism on later jurisprudence.'
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Specific context within Islamic theology. e.g., 'The concept of kasb (acquisition) is central to Ashʿarism's explanation of human agency.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ashʿarism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ashʿarism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ashʿarism”
- Misspelling: 'Ash'arism', 'Asharism' (dropping the diacritical mark).
- Mispronunciation: Pronouncing the 'shʿ' as a simple 'sh'.
- Confusing it with Sufism (mysticism) or Fiqh (jurisprudence).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it became the dominant theological framework within Sunni Islam. Sunni Islam includes various theological schools (like Maturidism and Atharism as well), legal schools, and creeds. Ashʿarism is one major theological component.
The apostrophe-like symbol (ʿ) represents the Arabic letter 'ayn', a voiced pharyngeal fricative. For English speakers, it is often omitted in casual speech, resulting in a pronunciation like 'uh-SHAH-riz-um'. In careful academic speech, a slight guttural constriction or a glottal stop may be attempted after the 'sh' sound.
Historically, its main theological rival was Muʿtazilism, which placed greater emphasis on rationalism and the created nature of the Quran. Within broader Sunni Islam, it is also contrasted with Atharism or Hanbali literalism, which is more sceptical of rational theology.
Yes, in academia and in traditional Islamic educational institutions (madrasas), Ashʿarism remains a foundational subject. Its theological formulations continue to influence mainstream Sunni creedal statements and theological discourse in many parts of the Muslim world.
A major school of Islamic theology, founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ashʿari in the 10th century, that reconciles reason with revelation and defends traditionalist beliefs using rational argumentation.
Ashʿarism is usually technical/academic/religious in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is technical and not used idiomatically.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ASHʿARISM: A School Harmonising Ancient Revelation, ISM, and Modernising thought.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRIDGE or MIDDLE PATH between two extremes (literalism and rationalism); a SYNTHESIS.
Practice
Quiz
Ashʿarism is best described as: