The conception of Sunnism by the Ottoman scholar Ahmad b. Zayni Dahlan

This thesis investigates the conception of Sunnism developed by Ahmad Zayni Dahlan, a leading 19th-century Shafiʿi scholar based in Mecca, within the framework of Islamic sectarian history. The main objective of the study is to identify the core principles underlying Dahlan's understanding of Ahl al-Sunnah, to analyze his stance on theological matters, and to examine his approach to the major sectarian groups of his time. Dahlan classified groups such as the Shiʿa, Muʿtazila, Kharijites, and Wahhabis as outside the bounds of Sunnism and proposed ideas aimed at preserving the integrity of Islamic belief. This thesis explores the theological foundations upon which Dahlan constructed his sectarian boundaries and the essential doctrines he emphasized in his engagement with theological debates. However, the primary focus is not on Dahlan's method of critique, but rather on the specific doctrines and sectarian identities that he excluded from Sunni orthodoxy. The first chapter introduces Dahlan's life, scholarly character, and his written works. The second chapter analyzes his views on core theological issues such as the divine attributes, faith (iman), predestination (qadaʾ and qadar), grave sins, and the beatific vision (ruʾyat Allah). The third chapter examines his evaluations of sectarian groups including the Shiʿa, Muʿtazila, Kharijites, and Wahhabis. The study adopts a qualitative methodology based on textual analysis of Dahlan's original Arabic works. The research is limited to theological (ʿaqidah) debates and does not cover jurisprudential or mystical (sufi) aspects. This thesis aims to contribute to the study of Islamic sectarianism by revealing how Ahmad Zayni Dahlan defended classical Sunni orthodoxy, defined the boundaries of sectarian affiliation, and constructed a clear identity for Ahl al-Sunnah during a period of significant religious fragmentation and transformation. Keywords: Ahmad Zayni Dahlan, Ahl al-Sunnah, islamic sects, kalam, sectarianism, 19th century, tradition, identity.