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Al-Ashari's Transformative Theological Turn
- Al-Ashari pivoted from Mu'tazilite rationalism to a theology preserving God's absolute freedom and power.
- His shift reframed debates about divine justice, human responsibility, and the grounding of morality.
Three Brothers Parable
- A famous story has three brothers ending in Paradise, Hell, and Limbo to illustrate divine choice over lives.
- The tale persuaded Al-Ashari to move away from Mu'tazilite positions on divine justice and human fate.
Divine Command Frames Moral Status
- Ash'arites adopt a strong divine-command view: moral status depends on God's will, not intrinsic features of actions.
- They hold that if God were to decree injustice, his decree would itself be just by definition.