The case of testing in Al-Māturīdī

The word imtihan appears in the Qur'an, either directly or indirectly, in many instances through synonymous terms such as testing, trial, and examination. Numerous opinions have been presented within the Islamic intellectual tradition regarding this concept. The fact that this concept is mentioned in various verses of the Qur'an, while scholars have not reached a definitive conclusion about its exact meaning, has left many questions in people's minds. Often, human beings are unable to make sense of the events that happen to them, questioning, " I do no harm to anyone, so why do such calamities and troubles befall me?" As a result of such inquiries, scholars felt the need to explain this concept. Undoubtedly, one of these scholars is Abu Mansur al- Maturidi, who is renowned as both a commentator (mufassir) and a jurist (faqih). Maturidi, who is regarded as one of the leading thinkers in the Islamic world, has significant views regarding the concept of imtihan (trial). In particular, in his work Ta'wilat al-Qur'an, the term imtihan emerges as a concept worthy of explanation. According to him, humans can be tested through everything and in every possible way. God does not need to test His servants, but the testing of the servants is for their own benefit. Imam Maturidi's interpretation of the concept of imtihan, the terms he associates it with, and his unique perspective are the most prominent aspects that distinguish him from other scholars. As a famous commentator, Maturidi focused extensively on this term and allocated it a significant place in his thought system. When analyzing the term imtihan, he focused on its meaning, who is subjected to trials, and what they are tested with. In the thought system of the author of Ta'wilat, this concept is grounded in a unique perspective.