This volume looks at the notion of legitimacy in
early Islam , specifically as it was held by an
important early scholar in Islam , namely Al-
Awz . the importance of al-Awz lies not only
in his scholarship and his ruling vis-à-vis
authority but more importantly his historical
context . al-Awz lived during the latter days of
the Umayyad dynasty and saw their removal by the
Abbasids . His interaction with the new regime and
his understanding of its (il) legitimacy did not
just have political ramifications but rather
affected some fundamental ideas of belief and
disbelief . This , in turn , was a consequence of
his theological beliefs . So it is essential for
researchers to understand that the relationship
between the scholars and caliphs needs to be
interpreted in terms of the scholar s theology .
The book begins by looking at the life and
scholarship of al-Awz before undertaking the
authentication of letters between al-Awz and the
Abbasid authorities . once authenticated , we
analyze the implications of the above correspondence
for the notions of legitimacy , authority , belief
and disbelief .
early Islam , specifically as it was held by an
important early scholar in Islam , namely Al-
Awz . the importance of al-Awz lies not only
in his scholarship and his ruling vis-à-vis
authority but more importantly his historical
context . al-Awz lived during the latter days of
the Umayyad dynasty and saw their removal by the
Abbasids . His interaction with the new regime and
his understanding of its (il) legitimacy did not
just have political ramifications but rather
affected some fundamental ideas of belief and
disbelief . This , in turn , was a consequence of
his theological beliefs . So it is essential for
researchers to understand that the relationship
between the scholars and caliphs needs to be
interpreted in terms of the scholar s theology .
The book begins by looking at the life and
scholarship of al-Awz before undertaking the
authentication of letters between al-Awz and the
Abbasid authorities . once authenticated , we
analyze the implications of the above correspondence
for the notions of legitimacy , authority , belief
and disbelief .