A Comparative Survey of Monotheism and Polytheism in the Theological Doctrines of Matoridiyya and Diubandiyya

 Diubandiyya is a two-century old movement, emerging from within Matoridi School of (Islamic) theology. This thesis aims to analyze how close or distant are these two denominations in terms of believing in monotheism and denying polytheism. A descriptive-analytical survey on the theological positions of the two movements shows that Diubandiyya is going to become independent in terms of principle notions, divisions, and requirements or barriers of monotheism and polytheism. This independence, gradually increasing despite the lack of agreement amongst its scholars, enjoys characteristics such as: getting rationalized instead of inclining towards Narration, relying on negative meaning of monotheism and focusing on the denial polytheism instead of affirmative meaning of monotheism. Diubandis insist on implying a special meaning of attributive polytheism, claiming that it is an embodiment of assimilation and polytheism to ascribe or consider the attributes of the Creator to the creatures, respectively.  They include worship monotheism under the divisions of monotheism, getting enormous use of polytheism and heresy (Bid,aa) in worshiping throughout their works as a result. Revealing a new analysis of worship acts and acquisition (Kasb), regarding the meaning of attributive polytheism is another aspect of difference between Diubandiyya and Matoridiyya. Notional extension in the definition and division of polytheism, focusing on removal of heresy from polytheistic affairs, as well as generalizing polytheism to those acts that were previously considered non-polytheistic, are some signs of closeness between the theological position of Diubandiyya and that of Ibn Taymiyya, recognizing him as its scientific source.