Akmaluddin Muhammad Babarti and Analysis of His Works on the Science of Kalam

This article examines the scholarly legacy of Akmaliddin Muḥammad Babarti (710-780/1310-1378), one of the leading figures of the VIII/XIV century Islamic intellectual tradition and a prominent scholar of the Hanafi-Maturidi theological school, who was highly accomplished in usulul fiqh, furu’ul fiqh, hadith, and kalam. The study primarily aims to elucidate his contribution to the development of Islamic creed (aqidah) and kalam. The article offers a comparative analysis of his “Sharhu wasiyatul Imam Abi Hanifa” and its various manuscript copies, identifying textual variants and assessing their impact on content concerning aqidah. In addition, the scholarly significance of his works such as “Irshad”, “Sharhu tajridil kalam”, “Sharhul maqasid”, “Kawashiful Burhaniyya”, and “Sharhu aqidatit tahawiyya” is highlighted. The article also examines his polemical responses to the heterodox groups and his method of integrating rational and transmitted proofs. The findings contribute to a clearer understanding of Babarti’s important role in the history of Maturidi theology.