Which School of Thought Should I Follow in ‘Aqida?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I learned that there are two schools of thought for Aqidah; the Ash‘arites and the Mu‘tazilites.

Is there a hadith regarding which one to follow? Which one should a layman follow? How do I know which one is correct? I am confused about this issue.

Answer

Thank you for your question. The two schools of thought for Aqeedah in Sunni Islam are Ash‘ari and Maturidi, and both are valid to follow.

Please see these articles for full details:
What Is Aqida and Why Study It? – Shaykh Hassan al Hindi
The Ash`aris & Maturidis: Standards of Mainstream Sunni Beliefs
The Sunni Position on the Speech of Allah
Are Good and Evil Determined by the Human Intellect or by Revelation?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.