Ahl as-sunna wa-l-Jama`a, "people of the tradition of Muhammad and the consensus of the Ummah" is the main subject of the book titled The formative period of Islamic thought written by William Montgomery Watt. He explained about the formation of main sects and schools after prophet Muhammed till mid tenth century AD which is the end of formatve period, analyzed its course and influence to the mainline Islam.
The book has 3 parts, The Begninngs(632-750), The Century of struggle(750-850) and The triumph of Sunnism(850-945). Part one has 5 chapters -
The book has 3 parts, The Begninngs(632-750), The Century of struggle(750-850) and The triumph of Sunnism(850-945). Part one has 5 chapters -
Chapter 1 the Kharijites(main topic - murder of Uthman, happening at Siffin, Harura and an-Nahrawan, ibn-al-Azraq and Najda/Najdites),
Chapter 2 proto-Shiíte phenomena under the umayyads(main topic - 'the family' possessed special qualities),
Chapter 3 the general religious movement (main topics - politics in umayyad period and Hasan al Basri),
Chapter 4 God's determination of events(main topic - ummayad claim of divine authority and Qadarites), and
Chapter 5 Faith and community(Main topic - postponement of a decision about Uthman and Ali, iman vs islam, moral laxity and Murjites and Jahmites).
Part two has 3 chapters -
Part two has 3 chapters -
Chapter 6 the establishmet of the Abbasids (main topics - theoretical basis of Abbaside rule, Rafidites or Imamites, Zaydites, Uthmanites and the self assertion of Persians),
Chapter 7 the attraction of reasoning (main topic - begninngs of reasoning and Kalãm, early exponents - Hisham, Dirãr, Bishr al Marisi and an-Najjar, and Al-Kindi and the Falãsifa) and
Chapter 8 the great Mu`tazilites (main topic - the school of Basra and Baghdad and five principles)
Part 3 has two chapters -
Part 3 has two chapters -
Chapter 9 the polarity of Sunnism and Shí`ism (main topic - Sunni - canon of Traditions, legal rites or schools, Quranic sciences and Sufîs, and Shî`ites - Ismal'ites or seveners, Zaydism in Yemen and formation of Imamism) and
the final chapter 10 the maturing of Sunnite theology (main topic - Sunnites - aftermath of Mihna, the hanafites, ibn-Kullab and al-Qalanisi, ibn-Karram and Ahmad ibn-Hanbal, the silver age of Mu`tazilsm, al-Ash`ari and al-Mãturidi from Samarqand, by the death of al-Ash`ari doctrines of creed has attained more or less final form)
