A Comparative Study of Semantic Foundations of Monotheism and Polytheism Proposed by Maturidism and Deobandism

Abstract

In Sunni Islam, the school of Deobandism emerged from the theological school of Maturidism about two centuries ago, claiming to follow the theology of the latter as its most important characteristics. The claim, however, is challenged when their theological issues are compared. The comparison of their analysis of monotheism and polytheism shows that Deobandism has different views from those of Maturidism, part of which are due to its semantic foundation for applying the concept of "polytheism" to anything doubtful. A descriptive-analytical survey was conducted to find the amount of change in Deobandism's view about the semantic foundations of monotheism and polytheism, showing that its followers believe in the conceptual development in the definition of polytheism and its types, and focus on eliminating heresy on the basis of anything doubtful of polytheism and on extending the instances of polytheism to any act which was not previously regarded as polytheism.

Keywords

• monotheism
• polytheism
• deobandism
• maturidism
• semantics