The relationship between knowledge and responsibility in the context of Maturidi's works

This thesis examines the relationship between divine knowledge and divine will in the theology of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi. Maturidi considers God's attributes to be self-subsistent, eternal, and unchanging; he distinguishes between knowledge and will but argues for a necessary and consistent harmony between them. Divine knowledge is the eternal knowledge of beings and actions; will determines the conditions and timing under which these occur. He rejects the view that will is subordinate to knowledge or that knowledge necessitates actions. God's knowledge is not the cause of actions, but His eternal knowledge. Thus, he establishes a balance against deterministic understandings. In human actions, the individual's partial free will and responsibility are fundamental. God knows and creates actions from eternity; however, whether they are good or bad depends on the individual's choice. Ultimately, Maturidi presents a balanced Sunni model by grounding both the absolute nature of divine knowledge and the free and responsible nature of human beings.