Hakim al-Jushemi's classification of denominational groups and his views on the sectarian divisions

In our thesis titled the Mutazilian 'Hakim al-Jushamī's View of Islamic Sects', we examined the reasons for the emergence of Islamic sects, the views and characteristics of sects, and how al-Jushamī conveyed the classification of sects. Our main aim is to reveal al-Jushamī's contribution to the 'Mutazilian Sect Historiography Literature'. The scope of our research includes al-Jushamī's classification of sects and the information he gave about sects, as well as his views on imāmah and usul al-hamsa in order to reveal al-Jushamī's sectarian identity. In our thesis, based on the descriptive method used by the History of Islamic Sects, the results obtained by comparing the political and social history in order to understand the facts and ideas as well as scanning and comparing the basic sources are presented objectively. As a result, al-Jushamī has a Zaydī-Mutazilite identity. His Mutazilite attitude on basic issues is clear. His emphasis on the Ali and the imams in the history of Shia and the different reflections in his works on imamate show that he sympathised with or was influenced by the ideas of Zaydiyya. In terms of the history of sects, al-Jushamī divides the Islamic societies until his time into seven main branches: Mutazila, Shia, Kharicis, Murjiya, Jabriyya, Amma, and Hashawiyya. He touches upon the basic views of these seven sects, their partial formation and maturation phase, their sub-sects, the geography of their spread, and the works written in defence of the views of the sects and their authors. Al-Jushamī does not limit his classification of sects to a certain number. The main method he uses to convey information about sects is the classical sect-centred historiography of sects. Accordingly, he analyses the sects through their basic views and generally does not mention their formation processes.