The Semantic Evolution of Doctrinal Terminology among Hadith Scholars and the Mu'tazilites: Selected Examples

Abstract

In this research, we trace the doctrinal term and its semantic development between two of the largest Islamic sects throughout history, especially since it is a major branch of Sharia law, namely doctrine, whose terminology is sensitive and requires prior knowledge to deal with, as well as a high level of proficiency in Sharia law, language, and other sciences. Due to the cultural mixing that resulted from the Arabs' contact with non-Arabs, especially during the Abbasid era, which brought about a major terminological revolution in various sciences, I decided to study this topic and examine the most important reasons for the semantic development of this type of terminology, based on the opinions of both the hadith scholars and the Mu'tazilites, and the reasons for their differences in the concept of doctrinal terminology.