An Overview of Imamiyya Kalāmi Periods and Schools in Middle Centuries

Imamiyya Kalām has not been the same throughout history, and has undergone many changes in various aspects. In different eras, Imamiyya theologians have been impacted by various factors, especially by the prominent schools of Islamic civilization in particular Mu’tazila theology, Ash’ari theology, Avicennism philosophy, and Sadrāie’s wisdom; therefore, they have presented different theological systems of religious beliefs of Imamiyya Shiism. Familiarity with the theological
schools and the various tendencies that have emerged in the Imamiyya Kalām is the prerequisite for any detailed research in this field. In this regard, no definite classification of the Imamiyya theological schools have been presented so far, which both reflects the various main styles and trends in the history of Imamiyya Kalām, and is accepted by researchers of this field. In the present article, an attempt is being made to propose a categorization of Imamiyya theological schools and periods. This new classification is based on the Imamiyya theologians’ styles of thought and distinct theological foundations. So accordingly, different evolutionary schools and periods of Imamiyya Kalām in the Middle centuries (from the fourth to the 11th century AH) are classified into four periods: 1. Mu’tazila theology including the early and the
late Baghdad Schools, as well as the early Hella School, 2. Mu’tazila- philosophical theology in the late Hella School, 3. Philosophical theology in Qom School, and 4. Philosophical-mystical theology in Isfahan School