Athari

The Sunni creed school that keeps to the wording of the texts and avoids theological speculation.

Also written · Atharis · Athariyyah · Atheri · Ahl al-Hadith · Ahlul Hadith · Traditionalist creed · Hanbali creed · Salafi creed · Ahle Hadith

The meaning

What Athari means in Islam

Athar means a narration, and the approach is to affirm what the Qur'an and Sunnah say about Allah in their own words, without figurative interpretation and without asking how. It is associated with Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and later with Ibn Taymiyyah and with much modern Salafi thought. Along with the Ash'aris and Maturidis it is one of the three recognised Sunni creed schools, and the argument between the three is old, sharp, and internal.

Evidence · Editorial · Our own summary, drawn from the sources named

Read beside it

Words that sit beside it

Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ahThe main body of Muslims who follow the Prophet's way and the practice of his companions.أَهْلُ السُّنَّةِ وَالجَمَاعَة
Ash'ariA Sunni school of creed founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, defending orthodox belief with reasoned argument.الأَشْعَرِيَّة
MaturidiA Sunni school of creed founded by Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, closely tied to the Hanafi tradition.المَاتُرِيدِيَّة
IstiwaThe Qur'anic statement that Allah rose over the Throne, and the classic test case for reading divine attributes.الاِسْتِوَاء
TafwidLeaving the meaning of a difficult divine attribute to Allah, as opposed to interpreting it figuratively.التَّفْوِيض