Islamic Aqidah in Contemporary Discourse: Creed, Identity, and Theological Debate Today

Islamic theological debates that originated in ninth-century Baghdad are not merely of historical interest — they continue to shape Muslim community life, legal reasoning, and political identity in the twenty-first century. The rivalry between Ash'ari and Salafi positions on the divine attributes, debates about the role of reason in theology, and questions about creedal conformity in diverse Muslim communities are live issues that require understanding the classical background to engage seriously. By the end of this course you will be able to describe how contemporary Islamic theological debates map onto classical school divisions, analyze how Aqidah functions as a marker of community identity in contemporary Muslim contexts, examine how modern Muslim thinkers have engaged with the challenge of rationalism, scientific knowledge, and pluralism within the framework of Islamic creed, and evaluate scholarly accounts of contemporary Islamic theology. What you will learn: - The Ash'ari-Athari/Salafi controversy today: what is at stake in the debate about divine attributes and how it shapes community allegiances in contemporary Muslim communities - How creedal positions intersect with legal school affiliation: the Hanafi-Maturidi and Shafi'i/Maliki-Ash'ari alignments and why they matter institutionally - Contemporary Muslim apologetics: how Islamic creedal claims are defended and explained in dialogue with Western philosophical atheism and scientific naturalism - The question of kalam today: debates about whether rational theology strengthens or undermines Islamic faith — contemporary positions and their classical precedents - Aqidah and political Islam: how creedal definitions have been used to define the boundaries of acceptable Muslim identity in various national and transnational contexts - Liberal and reform Muslim theology: thinkers who argue for reinterpreting classical creedal positions in light of modern knowledge — and the responses from traditional scholars - How Aqidah is taught today: in madrasas, Islamic universities, community circles, and online — comparing the approaches and their effects on how creed is understood - A case study framework: analyzing a specific contemporary theological controversy using both classical sources and modern scholarship The course draws on academic Islamic studies, contemporary Muslim theological writing, and selected primary sources in translation. Each section includes reflection prompts and a structured analytical task. A synthesis worksheet guides you through a comprehensive analysis of one contemporary Aqidah debate. This course is scholarly and educational in nature and does not constitute religious instruction or guidance. This course is designed for learners with some background in Islamic theology or Islamic studies who want to engage with its contemporary dimensions. Also suitable for students of political Islam, comparative theology, or the sociology of Muslim communities. No prior Arabic proficiency is assumed.