Exploring the Meaning of Faith and Kufr: Perspectives of Islamic Theological Schools

Abstract

This article discusses the meaning of faith and kufr from the perspective of Islamic theological schools. Faith and kufr in particular in the four main schools, namely Mu'tazilite, Murjiah, Ash'arite and Maturidiyah. Some of the important themes focused on in this article are amal (action), sahadat (confession of testimony), tasdiq (convincing belief), and ma'rifah (sincerely believed knowledge). Despite differences in views, all traditions recognize the importance of the concepts of faith and kufr as foundational in religious practice. Tolerance and mutual respect within this diversity of views are key to maintaining ukhuwah islamiyah in Muslim religious life. This article reviews the views of four schools of Islamic theology on faith and kufr. Mu'tazilites emphasize that faith is not only related to belief, but is also influenced by good deeds as a reflection of sincere faith. Meanwhile, the Murjiah consider faith to be in the heart and not bound by deeds, but rather by beliefs believed in the heart. Ash'arites attribute faith to belief in the heart and recognize the importance of deeds in strengthening faith and earning God's pleasure. On the other hand, the Maturidis emphasize the importance of a sincere understanding of faith and kufr, which will affect the way one practices faith on a daily basis. The formulation of the problem in the article is how can the spirit of ukhuwah islamiyah be maintained in the diversity of views on faith and kufr among Muslims?