Mâturidî's understanding of epistemology

Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (333/944), who is accepted as the founder of Māturidism, which is one of the two schools of Ahl as-Sunna belief, needs both to defend the Islamic creed and strengthen the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah on the basis of Abu Hanifa's (150/757) views on Kalām. He put up a serious struggle against non- Mu'tazila, Havaric and Bâtiniyye Islamic sects. Maturidi, who lived in the period of the "Samani State" (875-999), which gave great importance to science, dealt with some theological issues that were not mentioned much before him in his books. He determined his own unique direction by putting the balance of reason and transmission on the basis of his ideas. It is important to examine the understanding of epistemology, which constitutes the basis of the thoughts of such an important pioneer. Mâturîdî, who made an effective opening in the history of Islamic thought, is in a valuable position in terms of guiding the scholars who came after him in this direction. Abu Mansur al-Maturidi is the thinker among the Ahl as-sunnah theologians, who for the first time dealt with the subject of knowledge as a separate section and tried to determine its theoretical framework. He drew attention to the element of certainty in knowledge and emphasized the invalidity of knowledge obtained by imitation. Maturidi drew attention to the objective existence of the existence outside of us and grounded the possibility of knowledge based on our knowledge of it. What the nature of knowledge is, its value and sources play an active role in understanding its epistemology. According to Maturidi, who accepts the sources of knowledge as having airy selîme (senses), news as faithful (true news) and reason, each of the means of knowledge has separate areas (boundaries) and they cannot do each other's duties. We can't leave any of these sources behind the door when we're going to get information. Because the knowledge that one obtains, the other cannot obtain it. Our sources of information about the physical world are the senses and the news about the past. In order to have an opinion on matters related to the invisible, other than the field of sense, either inference or Hz. Prophet's news is needed. Mâturîdî, who also focused on the types of knowledge, also revealed his understanding of "divine knowledge" and "human knowledge". Mâturîdî, with his balanced attitude and moderation in the understanding of religion, was able to appeal to large masses and became one of the scholars followed until today. What information should be accepted as correct information so that an important issue like creed is not built on weak knowledge? How did theologians ground the correct knowledge? In order to find solutions to such questions, we found it appropriate to refer to Maturidi's views on this subject. In the first part of our study, the definition and formation of knowledge, in the second part, the sources of knowledge and in the third part, the types of knowledge, we discussed the importance of Maturidi's understanding of epistemology for the history of Islamic thought.