| Ilm al-Kalam (Arabic: عِلْم ٱلْكَلَام, romanized: ʿilm al-kalām, lit. 'science of discourse'), often shortened to kalam, is the scholastic, speculative, or philosophical study of Islamic theology (aqida).
It is a controversial science since some scholars state kalām was formed out of the need to establish and defend the tenets of Islam against the philosophical doubters. Meanwhile, hostile criticisms and rejection about kalam as theological field of study are quite prevalent among major Sunni Madhhab schools, such as Hanafi, Hanbali Maliki, Shafi'i, and Zahiri. As they viewed it not following Islamic teaching.
On the other hand, it gained acceptance in Twelver Shi'ism. According to Morteza Motahhari, It is a science that fundamental for Islamic faith doctrine or usul al-din, proving their validity, or refuting doubts regarding them. |
