Comparison of Mustafa Sabri Efendi and Zāhid al-Kawtharī's views on human actions

This research examines the issue of human actions one of the most debated topics in theology within the context of fate through the perspectives of late Ottoman scholars Mustafa Sabri Efendi (d. 1954) and Zāhid al-Kawtharī (d. 1952). The study analyzes this issue by comparing the views, methods, and arguments presented by Mustafa Sabri Efendi in his work Mawqif al-Bashar taḥta Sulṭān al-Qadar with those of Zāhid al-Kawtharī in al-Istibsār fī al-Tahadduth 'an al-Jabr wa al-Ikhtiyār. Additionally, Sabri Efendi's Mawqif al-'Aql is examined as it not only articulates his perspective on human actions but also critiques Zāhid al-Kawtharī's stance on the matter. While living in Ottoman lands, Sabri Efendi adhered to the Māturīdī school of thought regarding human actions. However, his views evolved during his years in exile, leading him to adopt the Ashʿarī school of thought. Notably, Sabri Efendi's position that humans are simultaneously subject to compulsion (jabr) and delegation (tafwīḍ) does not align with the traditional Ashʿarī doctrine. In fact, his interpretation fundamentally diverges from the Ashʿarī stance, which holds that human actions are neither fully compelled nor entirely delegated but occupy a middle ground between the two. Sabri Efendi, however, asserts that his views are consistent with the Ashʿarī school, employing the terms jabr and tafwīḍ in the same sentence but attributing different contextual meanings to them in relation to human actions. Since such an expression is unprecedented within the Ashʿarī tradition, Sabri Efendi has faced accusations of subscribing to a Jabrī (deterministic) view. This research seeks to elucidate Sabri Efendi's rationale for adopting this perspective by considering both his life experiences and the scholarly inquiries he undertook. Finally, we address whether Sabri Efendi, accused of endorsing the Jabriyya school, truly adopted its doctrines or if he instead remained aligned with the Ashʿarī school in his views on human actions.