THE CONCEPT OF THE ZAKAH IN THE OPINION OF IMAM MATURIDI

Abstract

UDK 28-428

Abu Mu'in en-Nasafi said for Imam Maturidi that he is the best scholar who understood Abu Hanifah in both theoretical and practical laws of Islam (usul and furu’). That is why we can say that Imam Maturidi is the founder of sunni theology. Although he, in academic circles, earned his reputation as a mutekellim- a theologian after whom a school of theology has taken the name -Mathuridi’s school, he has, as a faithful follower of Abu Hanifa, directed his intellectual capacities towards three Islamic disciplines: (a) jurisprudence (usūl el-fikh); (b) theology (kelām) and (c) exegeses (tafsīr) – his work in this sphere is a tafsir bi diraye - Te’wilatul Qur’an.  Thus, teachings and opinions of Imam Maturidi go all the way to Abu Hanifah wherefrom the silsilah (lineage) reaches Muhammad s.w.s. This is very significant because that lineage as well as Maturidi’s efforts to remain faithful to theological opinions and jurisprudence of Abu Hanifa demonstrate an unchanging and unanimous methodology in understandings of faith, starting from Muhammad s.w.s, then sahabies, tabiins and tabii-t-tabiins and all the way to the present day.