The early theologians of Shia and their thoughts

IV ABSTRACT (The Early Theologians of Shî'a and Their Thoughts) This thesis firstly aims to identify the lifes and thoughts of early theologians of Shî'a who flourished in the Imams' era. Secondly, it tries to make a brief comparison between these thoughts and the theology of later mutakallimûn who gave its last form to the Imamî theology after the Imamî party changed to a sect, the Ithna Ashariyya. The study consists of three chapters. In the first chapter; the lifes of the early theologians of Shî'a are outlined. In the second chapter; the theological thoughts attributed to them are investigated. The third chapter devotes a comparison between the early theological thoughts of Shî'a and the later authorative Imamî theology. In the Conclusion, there is a summary of the findings of the study.