Seyfeddin el-Âmidî Düşüncesinde Bilgi ve Nazar

Knowledge and Naẓar in the Thought of Sayf al-Dīn al-Āmidī
This study aims to examine Sayf al-Dīn al-Āmidī’s understanding
of knowledge (maʿrifah) and rational inquiry (naẓar), as he stands
among the significant figures in the history of Islamic thought. In
this research, al-Āmidī’s views on knowledge and naẓar are identified
primarily through his works, especially Abkār al-Afkār, and
are examined comparatively in relation to the classical kalām
tradition, particularly Ashʿarism, Islamic philosophy, and other
theological schools.
The study demonstrates that the political and intellectual conditions
of the period in which al-Āmidī lived played an important
role in shaping his system of thought. Having a profound command
of philosophy, logic, kalām, and legal theory, al-Āmidī belonged to
the Ashʿarite tradition, yet he developed original views on many
issues. His distinctive position becomes especially apparent in his
definitions of knowledge and naẓar, his evaluation of the sources of
knowledge, and his understanding of the function of reason.
The research shows that al-Āmidī assigns an important role to
reason in the acquisition of knowledge, while not considering it
an absolute and independent authority. According to him, naẓar
is one of the fundamental ways of attaining knowledge and has
an indispensable function in enabling human beings to comprehend
God, the universe, and the reality of existence. Nevertheless,
knowledge is not acquired solely through naẓar; it may also be
obtained through various means such as the senses, report, revelation,
and divine inspiration.
In conclusion, al-Āmidī may be regarded as an original thinker
who reinterpreted the classical kalām tradition by making use of
logic and philosophy, and who made significant contributions to
the formation of later kalām thought through his theories of
knowledge and naẓar.
Keywords: Sayf al-Dīn al-Āmidī; Kalām; Knowledge; Rational
Inquiry; Epistemology; Reason; Demonstration