The First Dissidents in Islamic Thought

The intellectual, political, and social fractures experienced in early Islamic society were decisive in shaping Islamic thought. This study sheds light on the fundamental dynamics and divisions of the politics and theology of the period by focusing on Ma'bad al-Juhanī (d.83/702?) and Ghaylan al-Dimashqi (d.120/738), who critiqued the Ummayad Dynasty's handling of religion and politics. Their ideas established the foundations of the Islamic science of Kalam, and this study examines the impact of their ideas on Islamic thought.