The Mu'tazila, Rational Judgments, and Principles of Natural Law: A Reading of Reason and Justice between Heritage and Modernity

The Mu'tazila school of Islamic thought constituted a central milestone in highlighting the value of reason and its role in understanding judgments and distinguishing between good and evil, thus laying the foundation for a religious and philosophical understanding based on freedom and responsibility. In contrast, natural law in Western thought presented a theory affirming the existence of supreme principles of justice based on reason and innate nature, prior to and binding upon man-made laws.

The book "The Mu'tazila, Rational Judgments, and Principles of Natural Law" presents an in-depth comparative study that reveals the points of convergence and divergence between the two schools, and highlights how Islamic heritage can intersect with modern legal philosophies in the pursuit of universal justice.

🔹 Main topics covered in the book:

• Mu'tazilite thought: its origins, its most prominent figures, and the concept of rational judgments .
• Types of rational judgments according to the Mu'tazila (obligatory - impossible - permissible).
• Principles of natural law in Greek, Roman, and Christian philosophy through to modern philosophy.
• A comparison between rational justice among the Mu'tazila and natural justice in Western legal thought.
• The impact of reason and morality on building the legal basis.
• Implications of these visions for contemporary positive laws.

This book combines traditional scholarship with comparative legal research , making it an important reference for students of Islamic thought, philosophy, and law , and for anyone interested in the roots of justice and rationality in building societies.