Abū Saʿd ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Nīsābūrī and his understanding of kalām

This study aims to present the theological (kalām) thought of Abū Saʿd Jamāl al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Maʾmūn b. ʿAlī al-Mutawallī al-Nīsābūrī, who lived in the fifth century AH and served as a mutawallī in the Niẓāmiyya madrasas. In identifying the author's views, his theological work al-Ghunya fī uṣūl al-dīn has been utilized as the primary source. The study consists of an introduction, six chapters, and a conclusion. In the introduction, the subject, aim, method, and sources of the thesis are discussed, and Mutawallī's scholarly personality and role as a theologian are briefly addressed. The first chapter provides a concise account of Mutawallī's life, scholarly character, and intellectual framework. The second chapter examines his views on knowledge, evidence, and the concept of rational inquiry (naẓar). The third chapter deals with his understanding of divinity, addressing issues such as divine attributes, faith, the beatific vision (ruʾyat Allāh), human acts, and other theological matters. The fourth chapter analyzes his conception of prophethood, with the aim of identifying his theological positions on this subject. The fifth chapter focuses on eschatological issues and the criticisms he advanced in this context. The sixth chapter addresses his discussions on the imamate, including the qualifications required of a caliph. In the conclusion, a general evaluation of Mutawallī's views is presented, and an effort is made to determine his position within the discipline of kalām based on the findings of the study.