The perspective of predecessor Ash'ari kalam scholars to sufism (Sample of İbn al-Furak)

Predecessors Ash'ari teologians had to deal with both theoretical and practical perspectives of sufism due to cyclical conditions. This, necessarily, has established bidirectionalrelationshipbetween Kalam and Sufism. Ibn Furak, who wasassumed to be a leadingrolein makingAsh'arikalam secta sistematic school, is the most importent representativeof kalam-sufism relationsin that period. Ibn Furak, who is famous forhis prayerful, piety, ascetic and God-fearing personality, compiled a self-contained work about sufism namedal-Ibanah. His aproaching toward sufism is not critical. Contrarily, he intended to protect main Islamic docrtins and eliminate the gap between the practical and theoreticalIslamic understanding. Key Words Teology, Sufism, Ibn Furak, Ash'ari, al-Ibanah