The discussion of the ithbāt al-wājib in the new science of Kalām period: Example of Abd al-Latīf Kharpūtī

This study examines the views of Abd al-Latīf Kharpūtī, who opened the door to the new science of Kalām, on ıthbāt al-wājib. Kharpūtī was one of the last Ottoman scholars who held important positions in addition to his professorship of "The Science of Kalām" at the Istanbul Darulfunun. Kharpūtī issued a fatwa that it was obligatory upon the scholars of the time to recompile the science of Kalām against the currents of positivism and materialism that emerged in the western world with philosophy and wisdom. He authored his work Tanqiḥ al Kalām as an example of the works that could be authored for this period. In this study, it was considered important to examine Kharpūtī's views on ıthbāt al-wājib, who underlines the "third recompilation of Kalām" period and who attempts to provide a model work for this period. The aim of this study is to examine how Kharpūtī handled the issue of ıthbāt al-wājib, one of the most important issues of Kalām, from his perspective in terms of style and content. That is why, after examining al-Kharpūtī place and importance in Kalām, this study aims to identify his theological views; to explain ıthbāt al-wājib; examine the views on ıthbāt al-wājib of Muslim philosophers and some of the schools and sects that emerged in the history of Kalām; and to identify the arguments al-Kharpūtī used in the discussion of ithbat al-wajib and his answers to the objections to these arguments. The hypothesis of the study is to determine that al-Kharpūtī employs the evidences of possibility, existence, purpose and order, motion, and disposition in his works on the issue of ıthbāt al-wājib. In addition, the aim of this study is to determine that al-Kharpūtī finds the proof of existence clearer and more comprehensible than the proof of possibility; that he analyzes the proof of purpose and order, which he calls the method followed by the prophets and asphiyan, more extensively than the proofs of possibility and existence, and that he attaches a special importance to this proof because it belongs to the prophets; and how al-Kharpūtī responds to the objections to the proofs of ıthbāt al-wājib. In the study conducted by following the qualitative research method, the data obtained by document analysis method were analyzed and tried to be reflected in the text. In the conclusion of the research, it was determined that Kharpūtī used the evidences of possibility, existence, purpose and order, motion, and disposition. It has been observed that Kharpūtī followed the developments in the east and west, was open to innovations and change, and used mainly rational proofs in his objections, while occasionally using narrative proofs, provided that the basic principles of the religion were preserved.