. THE CONCEPT OF FAITH AND ITS RATIONAL FOUNDATION: IN THE CONTEXT OF SHIHABUDDIN AL-MARJANI’S VIEWS: .

Abstract

This scholarly article examines the concept of faith (iman) in Islamic theology within the framework of the Hanafi–Maturidi tradition. The main focus of the study is the views of the prominent nineteenth-century Muslim scholar and reformist thinker Shihabuddin al-Marjani (1818–1889) on the issue of iman. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the definition of faith, its affirmation in the heart, the relationship between faith and deeds, as well as the question of faith based on imitation (taqlīd). Al-Marjani’s approach to understanding iman—linking faith with knowledge (maʿrifa), reason, and rational proof—is examined comparatively within the Maturidi theological system. Furthermore, the significance of the thinker’s reformist religious views for shaping religious consciousness in contemporary Muslim society, as well as for preventing radicalism and takfīrism, is highlighted. The aim of the article is to conduct a comprehensive study of the concept of iman and to provide a profound scholarly interpretation of its essence. The study addresses contemporary debates on disbelief, as well as the relationship between religion and science, through a modern analytical lens grounded in classical Islamic sources. In addition, the article clarifies the relationship between the phenomenon known as “Jadidism” and al-Marjani’s religious identity within the Maturidi school. Classical Islamic sources are extensively employed throughout the research. The findings demonstrate the significant role of al-Marjani’s intellectual legacy in revitalizing Maturidi theology and in shaping a rationally grounded understanding of faith.