Murji'ah (Arabic: المرجئة, English: "Those Who Postpone"), also known as Murji'as or Murji'ites, were an early Islamic sect. Murji'ah held the opinion that God alone has the right to judge whether or not a Muslim has become an apostate. Consequently Muslims should practice postponement (ʾirjāʾ) of judgment on committers of major sins and not make charges of disbelief (’takfir’) or punish accordingly anyone who has professed Islam to be their faith. They also believed that good deeds or omission of them do not affect a person's faith, and a person who did no other act of obedience would not be punished in the afterlife as long as they held onto pure faith. They used to say that "disobedience does not harm faith as good deeds do not help with disbelief."[1] The members of the Murjite Order continue to adhere to this school. [2]
During the early centuries of Islam, Muslim thought encountered a multitude of influences from various ethnic and philosophical groups that it absorbed.
The Murji'ah emerged as a theological school that was opposed to the Kharijites on questions related to early controversies regarding sin and definitions of what is a true Muslim.
The Khawarij believed that committing a sin amounted to leaving Islam and that serious sinners should be ousted from the community and that jihād (“holy war”) should be declared on them.
The Murji'ah reacted with the opposite extreme, that deeds not only do not result in leaving Islam, but do not affect one's faith at all.[1] They advocated the idea of deferring judgment of other peoples' belief. The word Murjiah itself means "one who postpones" in Arabic.[2] They urged unity among Muslims, and their conciliatory principles made them popular.
Khariji doctrine had led the adherents of the sect to revolt against the Umayyads, whom they regarded as corrupt and unlawful rulers whereas Murjite doctrine held that since only God has the authority to judge who is a true Muslim and who is not, Muslims should consider all other Muslims as part of the community.[3] This theology promoted tolerance of Umayyads and converts to Islam who appeared halfhearted in their obedience.[3]
Beliefs on major sin
In another contrast to the Kharijites, who believed that committing a major sin would render a person non-Muslim, Murjites considered genuine belief in and submission to God to be more important than acts of piety and good works. They believed Muslims committing major sins would remain Muslim and be eligible for paradise if they remained faithful.[4] Conversely, those engaging in shirk cannot benefit salvation from performing good acts.[5] Thus, faith is paramount.
Extreme Murji'ites, such as Jahm ibn Ṣafwān (d. ad 746), regarded faith as purely an inward conviction, thus allowing a Muslim outwardly to profess other religions and remain a Muslim, since only God could determine the true nature of his faith.
The Murji'ah thesis can be summed up as follows: 'sin does not do any injury where there is iman (belief), just as acts of obedience are of no use where there is kufr (disbelief).[6]
The Murji'ah were also in stark contrast to orthodox positions, (including those of the Maturidi and Ash'ari schools of theology), which can be summarised by Ibn Hazm's formulation: "The people of Sunnah and Tradition and the Fuqaha (jurists) hold that a man who has committed a grave sin is still a Believer (only, he is not any longer a perfect Believer), he is a Fasiq, imperfect in Belief. A grave sinner is still a Believer in his assent and verbal confessions but Fasiq in his 'work'.[6]
Legacy
Abu Hanifa, founder of the Hanafi (c. 699–767) school of Sunni jurisprudence, was often accused of holding Murji'ah beliefs[1], however, he was later cleared of these accusations by other Hanafis such as Tahawi through his foundational Sunni text, Al-'Aqida al-Tahawiyya; a popular exposition of Sunni Muslim doctrine.
Ibn Taymīyah, Abī al-ʻAbbās Taqī al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al-Ḥalīm. al-Fatāwá.
Fakhry, Majid (2004). A History of Islamic Philosophy, 3rd ed. Columbia University Press. ISBN0-231-13221-2.
Izutsu, Toshihiko (2001). Concept of Belief in Islamic Theology. The Other Press. ISBN983-9154-70-2.
References
^"Murjiʾah, ISLAMIC SECT". britannica. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
^"Royal House of Tahir Buruj". 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
January 26, 2023
murji, arabic, المرجئة, english, those, postpone, also, known, murji, murji, ites, were, early, islamic, sect, held, opinion, that, alone, right, judge, whether, muslim, become, apostate, consequently, muslims, should, practice, postponement, ʾirjāʾ, judgment,. Murji ah Arabic المرجئة English Those Who Postpone also known as Murji as or Murji ites were an early Islamic sect Murji ah held the opinion that God alone has the right to judge whether or not a Muslim has become an apostate Consequently Muslims should practice postponement ʾirjaʾ of judgment on committers of major sins and not make charges of disbelief takfir or punish accordingly anyone who has professed Islam to be their faith They also believed that good deeds or omission of them do not affect a person s faith and a person who did no other act of obedience would not be punished in the afterlife as long as they held onto pure faith They used to say that disobedience does not harm faith as good deeds do not help with disbelief 1 The members of the Murjite Order continue to adhere to this school 2 Contents 1 The emergence 2 Beliefs on major sin 3 Legacy 4 Bibliography 5 ReferencesThe emergence EditDuring the early centuries of Islam Muslim thought encountered a multitude of influences from various ethnic and philosophical groups that it absorbed The Murji ah emerged as a theological school that was opposed to the Kharijites on questions related to early controversies regarding sin and definitions of what is a true Muslim The Khawarij believed that committing a sin amounted to leaving Islam and that serious sinners should be ousted from the community and that jihad holy war should be declared on them The Murji ah reacted with the opposite extreme that deeds not only do not result in leaving Islam but do not affect one s faith at all 1 They advocated the idea of deferring judgment of other peoples belief The word Murjiah itself means one who postpones in Arabic 2 They urged unity among Muslims and their conciliatory principles made them popular Khariji doctrine had led the adherents of the sect to revolt against the Umayyads whom they regarded as corrupt and unlawful rulers whereas Murjite doctrine held that since only God has the authority to judge who is a true Muslim and who is not Muslims should consider all other Muslims as part of the community 3 This theology promoted tolerance of Umayyads and converts to Islam who appeared halfhearted in their obedience 3 Beliefs on major sin EditIn another contrast to the Kharijites who believed that committing a major sin would render a person non Muslim Murjites considered genuine belief in and submission to God to be more important than acts of piety and good works They believed Muslims committing major sins would remain Muslim and be eligible for paradise if they remained faithful 4 Conversely those engaging in shirk cannot benefit salvation from performing good acts 5 Thus faith is paramount Extreme Murji ites such as Jahm ibn Ṣafwan d ad 746 regarded faith as purely an inward conviction thus allowing a Muslim outwardly to profess other religions and remain a Muslim since only God could determine the true nature of his faith The Murji ah thesis can be summed up as follows sin does not do any injury where there is iman belief just as acts of obedience are of no use where there is kufr disbelief 6 The Murji ah were also in stark contrast to orthodox positions including those of the Maturidi and Ash ari schools of theology which can be summarised by Ibn Hazm s formulation The people of Sunnah and Tradition and the Fuqaha jurists hold that a man who has committed a grave sin is still a Believer only he is not any longer a perfect Believer he is a Fasiq imperfect in Belief A grave sinner is still a Believer in his assent and verbal confessions but Fasiq in his work 6 Legacy EditAbu Hanifa founder of the Hanafi c 699 767 school of Sunni jurisprudence was often accused of holding Murji ah beliefs 1 however he was later cleared of these accusations by other Hanafis such as Tahawi through his foundational Sunni text Al Aqida al Tahawiyya a popular exposition of Sunni Muslim doctrine Islamic theology Al Harith ibn Surayj KhawarijBibliography EditIbn Taymiyah Abi al ʻAbbas Taqi al Din Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al Ḥalim al Fatawa Fakhry Majid 2004 A History of Islamic Philosophy 3rd ed Columbia University Press ISBN 0 231 13221 2 Izutsu Toshihiko 2001 Concept of Belief in Islamic Theology The Other Press ISBN 983 9154 70 2 References Edit Murjiʾah ISLAMIC SECT britannica Retrieved 29 July 2019 Royal House of Tahir Buruj 2021 04 17 Retrieved 2021 05 18 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Murji 27ah amp oldid 1093795252, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
