Ash'ariyyah
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The Ash’ariyyah are a school of Islamic aqeedah (theology) that is named after Imam Abu’l-Hasan al-Ash’ari (may Allaah have mercy on him). Imam Al-Ash’ari passed through three stages – as mentioned by Ibn Taymiyyah in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 4/72 – which may be summed up as follows: a Mu’tazili stage; then following Ibn Kilaab; then following the Athariyyah (or Textualists), chiefly Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Imam Al-Ash’ari clearly stated his final position in his three books: Risaalah ila Ahl al-Thaghr, Maqaalaat al-Islaamiyyeen, and al-Ibaanah. Whoever follows al-Ash’ari at this stage is in accordance with the Athariyyah (Textualists) or Hanbalis in most issues. What is referred to as the common day Ash'ari school follows the views of Imam al-Ash'ari during his second stage (which he eventually left).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in al-Fataawa, 3/338:
"Those later scholars who called themselves after Abu’l-Hasan al-Ash’ari were following the second of his stages of ‘aqeedah. They followed the method of misinterpreting most of the divine attributes, and thus only affirmed the seven attributes mentioned in the following line of verse:
'Ever-Living, All-Knowing, Able (to do all things), He speaks, He wills, He hears and He sees.'"
They also differed with the Athariyyah as to how these attributes are to be understood.
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