Notes On The Concept Of Warner (Khā？ir) In Basrian Mu？tazilite Theology

In Basrian Mu？tazila, the concept of warner (khā？ir) is principally considered as an element that imposes obligation on man. Warner instils fear within the obliged believer and prompts him to contemplate about the existence of God. Basrian Mu？tazila brings along two essential approaches on the content of warner: According to first approach, led by Abū ？Alī al-Jubbā？ī, warner is a kind of conviction (i？tiqād) or assumption (？ann). As for second approach, defended by Abū Hāshim al-Jubbā？ī, warner is speech (kalām). Besides, the Mu？tazilites discuss the prerequisites to enable goodness (？usn) of warner. Accordingly, warner should comprise fear so as to make one abandon reflection (na？ar), it should express why reflection is obligatory (wājib), include the imperativeness of other obligatory issues because of reflection, and express such imperative knowledge within a certain order. Besides, Mu？tazilites argue whether a contrary warner, in other words, a warner which abolishes the obligation of reflection that takes one to knowing of God (ma？rifat Allāh), is possible. Some views put forth theoretical possibility of such warner, even though it is widely considered impossible in practice