Kalām and Civilisation: A Study of Aims and Functions

Scholars of ʿIlm al-Kalām have differed in their views on the subject matter of this discipline. Some, such as al-Ghazālī, defined it as the study of “existence insofar as it exists”, while al-Urmavī identified it as the “Essence of God”. Later theologians reached a consensus that Kalām is the study of “that which can be known insofar as it is related, directly or indirectly, to the establishment of religious doctrines”. Accordingly, Kalām has been defined as the discipline that seeks to establish religious beliefs by presenting rational proofs and refuting doubts.

The ultimate aim of ʿIlm al-Kalām is therefore to affirm religious doctrines concerning divinity, prophecy and eschatology. Its primary method is rational demonstration (dalīl ʿaqlī). Since most theological matters pertain to the unseen (ghayb), the path to their verification must begin with the observable and sensible by inferring cause from effect and Creator from creation. As knowledge of God is the primary focus of Kalām and is attained through intellectual inquiry and rational reflection, some theologians regard the first obligation of a morally responsible agent (mukallaf) as “speculative reflection” (naẓar) or “the intention to engage in reflection”.

Furthermore, moral responsibility (taklīf) can only be realised through human free will and volition because compulsion negates accountability. From this perspective, Kalām accords a central position to reason, reflection, and inference while simultaneously affirming human freedom as a necessary foundation for moral and theological responsibility. Defining its subject as 'that which can be known' also gives Kalām an all-encompassing character, enabling it to interact with a wide range of disciplines from various epistemological standpoints.

Consequently, theological works have frequently engaged in ontological discussions, providing thorough classifications of existence and drawing on various fields of study to support the objectives of Kalām, especially in affirming the existence, power, and will of the Creator. Examining Qur'anic discourse reveals three fundamental duties that God Almighty has enjoined upon humankind: worship (ʿibāda), stewardship (istikhlāf) and cultivation (ʿimrān). In a broader sense, these duties constitute the foundation of civilization, progress and moral rectitude.

ʿIlm al-Kalām plays a pivotal role in fulfilling these divine imperatives and realising such elevated objectives, given its comprehensive subject matter and its call for reflection and contemplation, which culminate in a firm conviction in the Creator and an understanding of His relationship to the cosmos and to humanity. This article seeks to elucidate the importance of Kalām in the civilisational and intellectual development of societies and nations.