Theological Conflicts in Early Islamic Era: The Execution of Ghaylan ibn Muslim al- Dimashqi al-Qadarī

Abstract

The Ghaylān ibn Muslim al-Dimashqī al-Qadarī incident represented a growing trend towards politicizing theological disputes during the early Islamic history. The belief that man is absolutely free and possesses the ability to act on his own is the central idea of his thought. Although he received the whole concept from his predecessors, he advanced the idea to new heights to such an extent that the credit of establishing and advancing the Qadariyyah School is given to him. When applied to the then political reality of the Umayyad domination, the notion of absolute human free will would have had grave implications. The relations between Ghaylān and the ruling political elite were unhealthy. Ghaylān, despite repeated warnings, refused to relinquish his beliefs or to remain quiet and hence paid dearly with his life.