The Allah-Human Relationship in Mu’tazilah
-Example of Qadi Abd Al-Jabbar-
This study aims to examine the relationship between God and the human being in a comprehensive manner through the theological system of Qāḍī ʿAbd al-Jabbār, one of the foremost representatives of Muʿtazilite theology. It first addresses his conception of God in relation to the divine attributes of knowledge, power, will, and life, as well as the theory of states, creation, teleology, wisdom, and divine justice. According to this understanding, God does not act under compulsion; rather, His acts are grounded in will, wisdom, benefit, and justice. It is therefore inconceivable for God to perform evil or unjust acts, to impose obligations beyond human capacity, or to be the direct creator of human wrongdoing.
The second part examines the Muʿtazilite conception of the human being, particularly as formulated by Qāḍī ʿAbd al-Jabbār. The human being is defined as an integrated entity endowed with knowledge, will, moral discernment, the capacity to act, and responsibility before religious and ethical obligations. For human accountability to be meaningful, the individual must possess power and freedom of choice prior to the act. Accordingly, human beings are regarded as the genuine agents of their actions and are responsible for the moral consequences of their choices.
The final part explores the ethical, social, natural, and individual dimensions of the God-human relationship. Issues such as divine unity, justice, commanding right and forbidding wrong, promise and threat, human acts, destiny, provision, death, evil, suffering, knowledge of God, prayer, repentance, and intercession are evaluated within this framework. Employing qualitative literature review, textual analysis, interpretation, and comparison, the study concludes that, in Qāḍī ʿAbd al-Jabbār’s theological anthropology, the human being is not independent of God but is nevertheless recognised as a free, active, and responsible moral agent. Thus, the God-human relationship is established on the foundations of divine justice, free will, and moral responsibility.
Keywords: Mu‘tazilah; Qadı Abd al-Jabbar; Allah; Human; Allah-Human
Relationship