Operationalising Kalām: Towards a Framework of Applied Kalām (al-Kalām al-Taṭbīqī) with Special Focus on the Problem of Evil
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Abstract
Within the Islamic intellectual tradition, ʿilm alkalām—as formalised by the Ashʿarite school—has historically succeeded in the rational articulation and defence of Islamic creedal principles. However, the emergence of a Western worldview that reduces religion to dogmatic belief devoid of empirical or rational proof has created a significant dilemma for contemporary Muslim theologians. Adherents of Ashʿarism, in particular, face the challenge of engaging with modern ideologies that are often more nuanced than the polemics of the past. This article contends that the solution lies not in abandoning this robust tradition, but in its operationalisation through a proposed framework of “Applied Kalām” (al-kalām al-taṭbīqī). This systematic methodology transforms theological principles into practical tools for addressing both classical and contemporary problems. By defining Applied Kalām and demonstrating its efficacy through a case study on theodicy, this study asserts the tradition’s enduring relevance.
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