Investigating the evolution of the principles of religion in the Mu'tazila language based on the semantics of the term "principles of religion".

The subject of this article is the examination of the evolution of the principles of religion in Mu'tazilite theology with a focus on the semantics of the term "principles of religion." Determining the principles of religion has been of great importance to Muslim theologians. In the Mu'tazilite school of thought, the principles of religion initially began with two principles: monotheism (Tawhid) and justice ('Adl), and then throughout the history of theological discourse, this sect underwent transformations due to intensified theological and sometimes political disputes. Three additional principles - the intermediacy between intermediates (Manzilah bayn al-manzilatayn), promise and threat (wa'd wa wa'id), enjoining good and forbidding evil (amr bi'l-ma'ruf wa-nahy 'an al-munkar) - were added. The main question of this research is what changes in the semantics of the term "principles of religion" occurred during the history of this sect that led from those initial two principles to the final five? This article, in order to answer this question, employs a descriptive-analytical method to examine the semantic meaning of the term "principles of religion" and its evolutionary trajectory among the Mu'tazilites. It seems that the term "principles of religion" in this sect, based on their definition of faith, refers to the principles of belief and practice that are considered pillars of faith. The non-acceptance of these principles implies departure from the circle of faith and Islam. Among these principles, two belief principles, monotheism and justice, are among the main pillars of belief, while the three principles of intermediacy between intermediates, promise and threat, and enjoining good and forbidding evil are considered subsidiary principles extracted from the heart of the two preceding principles.