The Sectarian Identity of Ibn Tumart


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YAVUZ A. Ö.

CUMHURIYET ILAHIYAT DERGISI-CUMHURIYET THEOLOGY JOURNAL, vol.21, no.3, pp.2069-2101, 2017 (ESCI) identifier identifier

Abstract

Magreb is among the important geographies which contribute to the development of Islamic thought. One of the persons who grew up in this region, which hosts many sects and political formations based on their foundations of thought in the historical process, is Muhammad Ibn Tumart (d. 524/1130). As a curious student, Ibn Tumart studied Maliki and Zahiri fiqh in Magreb and Andalus, and then carried out a ten-year journey to the east for education. He met Ash'ariyya and Mu'tazila schools of theology here. After the adventure of education, Ibn Tumart, who traveled back to Magreb and tried to narrate his thoughts to the public everywhere, benefited from a selective approach from the thoughts of different schools. He composed his own sectarian identity by combining the Maliki and Zahiri fiqh view, the kalam of Ash'ariyya and Mu'tazila, the Shii imamate thought and Mandi belief, and some principles of Kharijism with his own experiences. His sectarian identity emerged as the result of a selective attitude. With the sectarian identity he composed, he gained a ground for presenting both his actionist personality and his political goals.