The comparison of Abu'l-Muʿīn al-Nasafī and Abū Ishaq al-Saffār's understandings of faith

This study discusses the understanding of faith developed by Abu'l-Muʿīn al-Nasafī (d. 508/1115) and Abū Isḥāq al-Ṣaffār (d. 534/1139), who are considered among the leading representatives of Hanafī-Maturidite theology. Al-Nasafī's Tebsirat al-adilla fi usūl al-din and al-Ṣaffār Talkhīṣ al-adilla li-qawāʿid al-tawḥīd are voluminous theological works. The aim of the present study is to identify, examine and compare the understanding of faith developed by al-Nasafī and al-Ṣaffār, with reference to these works. The introduction presents the information about the subject and elaborates on the importance, purpose, method and sources of the research. The first chapter introduces the lives and scholarly identities of al-Nasafī and al-Ṣaffār. The second touches upon theological debates, such as the definition of faith, the relationship between faith and deeds, the changes in the strength of faith, the relationship between faith and Islam and the nature of faith, and it goes on to discuss the views of theological sects on these issues. The last chapter identifies al-Nasafī's and al-Ṣaffār's perspectives on faith and discusses them based on their works that have survived to the present day. It also pinpoints the any possible similarities and differences in their views. Finally, the conclusion presents an overview of the information obtained as a result of the research.