Peranan dan Signifikan Abū Ja’far al-Ṭaḥāwī (w. 321H) melalui Kitab al-‘Aqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah dalam Perkembangan Perbahasan Akidah Islam

(The Role and Significance of Abū Ja’far al-Ṭaḥāwī (d. 321H) Through His Work al-ʿAqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah in the Development of Islamic Theology Discourse)

Abstract

Abū Ja'far al-Ṭaḥāwī (d. 321H) was a scholar who wrote a book that was agreed upon by scholars from the salaf and khalaf, al-'Aqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah. He lived at the same time as two great imams of Ahl Sunnah Waljamāʽah, Abu al-Ḥasan al-Ashʽari (d. 324H) and Abu Manṣūr al-Māturīdi (d. 333H). However, his thought on al-‘Aqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah was not given much attention compared to the two Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah imams. Based on this question, this article aims to examine some of the main issues related to al-Ṭaḥāwī's prominence as a salaf scholar and his role in the development of Islamic Theology discourse, through (i) the background of al-Ṭaḥāwī's life, (ii) ‘Aqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah as a core doctrines of the Ahl al-Sunnah Wal-Jamā‘ah and (iii) the role and significance of al-Ṭaḥāwī in the development of Islamic Theology discourse. The methodology used for this study is a qualitative design by using the document analysis method of the book al-ʽAqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah and some of its lectures as a master reference for al-Ṭaḥāwī's ʽaqīda. Apart from that, the study uses data analysis methods that include comparative analysis methods. This study reasserts the position of al-Ṭaḥāwī’s creed as a foundational articulation of Sunni orthodoxy predating and influencing Ash‘ari and Māturīdī systems. Futhermore, the creed of al-Ṭaḥāwī was recognized and agreed upon by all the scholars from the salaf and khalaf groups that it aligned with the Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah belief on the manhaj of the salaf al-ṣāliḥ. This can prove the prominence of al-Ṭaḥāwī and his role in the development of Islamic Theology discourse is a fact that cannot be denied by anyone. The implications of this article will highlight the importance and significance of al-Tahawī's role in synthesizing theological discussions that are continuous with the understanding of Abū Ḥanīfah's theology as presented in the book al-Fiqh al-Akbar.