'The Encouragement/Exhortation to Investigation/Research'),[2] better known as Risalat Istihsan al-Khawd fi 'Ilm al-Kalam (Arabic: رسالة استحسان الخوض في علم الكلام, lit.

[6] Unlike ultra-traditionalists, al-Ash'ari considered debate, inquiry or argument, and use of the tools of logic, sense and reason in religious matters, including the matter of the doctrines of the faith as permissible, citing evidences from the Qur'an and the Sunnah that supports and endorses dialectical rational thinking, logical reasoning, and critical examination and analysis in theology.

[7][8] In this work, al-Ash'ari reflected himself as opposed to the ultra-traditionalists, literalists or fundamentalists (probably some of those associated with the Hanbali school),[9] and described them as being ignorant, unable to rationalize or inquire into religious matters, and inclined to blind imitation of authority.

Al-Ash'ari emphasized that Qur'an and Hadith never neglect the role of reason and allow speculative thinking (nazar) and rational inference to be implemented.

[14] Samir al-Qadi, a student of 'Abdullah al-Harari, wrote a commentary on the treatise, entitled Idah al-Maram min Risalat al-Ash'ari al-Imam (Arabic: إيضاح المرام من رسالة الأشعري الإِمام).