Studies on the disputes between ash'ari and mâtürîdî theological schools during the Ottoman era: The case of Kemal Paşazâde

The Ottoman Empire, throughout its six-century-long history, served as a focal point for the theological disputes between the Ash'arī and Māturīdī schools of kalām. This thesis delves deeply into the foundations, evolution, and consequences of these theological conflicts, examining the stance of the Ottoman scholarly community and their impact on Ottoman society. The first chapter of this thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of Kemal Paşazâde's life, academic contributions, and scholarly identity. This section examines the significant periods of his life, the reasons behind the emergence of his works, the formation of his theological views, and his position in the disputes between the kalām schools. Additionally, it explores his place within the Ottoman kalām tradition, his relationships with other scholars, and the influence of his works on Ottoman intellectual life. The second chapter focuses on Kemal Pashazade's Risâletu'l-İhtilâf beyne'l-Eşa'ira ve'l-Mâtürîdîyye, a treatise that systematically outlines the fundamental theological disputes between the Ash'arī and Mâtürîdî schools. This section provides a detailed examination of the major topics discussed in the treatise, analyzing the arguments and counterarguments presented by Pashazade. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the doctrinal similarities and differences between the two theological schools is conducted, shedding light on how Pashazade approached these controversies. This thesis primarily investigates the theological disputes between the Ash'ari and Mâtürîdî schools within the Ottoman context, with a particular focus on Kemal Pashazade's Risâletu'l-İhtilâf beyne'l-Eşa'ira ve'l-Mâtürîdîyye. By doing so, it aims to contribute significantly to the study of Islamic theology and the intellectual history of the Ottoman Empire. The examination of Pashazade's stance on these theological debates, along with his works and scholarly identity, constitutes the cornerstone of this research. This study aspires to serve as a valuable reference for future researchers and to encourage further exploration of classical manuscripts and theological discourses.