Murji'ah

Murjiʾah (Arabic: المرجئة‎, "Those Who Postpone"), also Murji'as, Murjites or Murji'ites, 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.[1] The school is now considered extinct.

The emergence

During the early centuries of Islam, Muslim thought encountered a multitude of influences from various ethnic and philosophical groups that it absorbed. 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.[2]

As opposed to the Kharijites, Murjites advocated the idea of deferring judgment of other peoples' belief. The word Murjiah itself means "one who postpones" in Arabic.[3] Murjite doctrine held that only God has the authority to judge who is a true Muslim and who is not, and that Muslims should consider all other Muslims as part of the community.[4] This theology promoted tolerance of Umayyads and converts to Islam who appeared halfhearted in their obedience.[5]

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.[6] Conversely, those engaging in shirk cannot benefit salvation from performing good acts.[7] Thus, faith is paramount.

The Murjite opinion on the issue of whether one committing a major sin remains a believer was adopted with modifications by the later theological schools – Maturidi, Ash'ari and Muʿtazila[8]

See also

• Islamic theology
• Al-Harith ibn Surayj
• Khawarij

Bibliography

• 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. ISBN 0-231-13221-2.
• Izutsu, Toshihiko (2001). Concept of Belief in Islamic Theology. The Other Press. ISBN 983-9154-70-2.

References

1. "Murjiʾah, ISLAMIC SECT". britannica. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
2. Ibn Taymīyah, Abī al-ʻAbbās Taqī al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al-Ḥalīm. "al-Fatāwá". Cite journal requires |journal= (help), 5: 555-556; 7: 195-205; 7: 223
3. Nigosian, Solomon Alexander (2004). Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices. Indiana University Press. pp. 59.
4. Isutzu, Concept of Belief, p. 55-56.
5. Isutzu, Concept of Belief, p. 55.
6. Fakhry, Islamic Philosophy, p. 40-41.
7. Isutzu, Concept of Belief, p. 201
8. Isutzu, Concept of Belief, p.57-59