The handbook is organized into five distinct parts, following a mostly chronological development of the discipline:
The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Theology , edited by Sabine Schmidtke , is an authoritative and comprehensive survey of the current state of the field. This 815-page volume features forty-one essays by leading scholars, providing a detailed historical and thematic overview of Islamic theological thought from its origins to the modern day. Structure and Content The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Theology
: Covers foundational theological strands, including the origins of kalām (rational theology), early Shīʿī theology, Muʿtazilism, and the rise of Ashʿarism and Māturīdism. The handbook is organized into five distinct parts,
: Examines the growing amalgamation of theology with philosophy (such as Avicennan thought) and mysticism. : Examines the growing amalgamation of theology with
: Features case studies on specific dilemmatic issues, such as occasionalism, that developed through interactions between competing theological schools.
: Explores the impact of political developments, including the famous miḥna (inquisition) and the religious policies of empires like the Almohads.
