Reason is an important focus-word in ‘ Abduh’s worldview and has a great influence' on his theological system and news. Because of his position of ascribing' great powers to reason and limited- functions to revelation, his system and views are in glaring contradiction with those of the Ash'ariyah who have a distrust in the power of reason and great reliance on revelation. His system and views, on the other hand, greatly resemble those of the Mu’tazilah who have been wel1-known for their high appreciation of the power- of reason and little reliance on revelation. With those of the maturidiyah in both their Samarqandi and Bukhara branches, who adopt an intermediate position pertaining to the power of reason and the function of revelation, Abduh' s theological system and views have many disagreements. Contrary to the prevalent opinion Abduh is neither an Ash’arI, nor a maturidi, nor an eclectic. He is rather a Mu' tazili.

In this work I explored discussions of Islamic rationalism in the medieval Islamic period and the contemporary period in Egypt. I examine the evolution of Islamic rationalism from the works of Averroes (Ibn Rushd) to Muhammad 'Abduh in Egypt and subsequently his influence on the formation of the Wasat (Center) Party in Egypt after the wake of the Arab Spring.