born 873/874, Basra, Iraq
died 935/936, Baghdad
Muslim Arab theologian.
He probably belonged to the family of Abū Mūsā al-Ashʽarī, one of the Companions of the Prophet . He joined the Mutazilah school and compiled scholarly opinions in his Maqālāt al-Islāmīyīn ("Theological Opinions of the Muslims"). At about age 40 he concluded that his method had led to sterile concepts of God and humanity, and he turned to more orthodox theology. He expanded his Maqālāt and authored Kitāb al-Lumaʽ ("The Luminous Book"). Reflecting on the ideas of al- Muhāsibī and others, he created his own school, which became known as the Khorāsān, or Ashʽarite, school. See also Ashariyyah .