There was not a great deal written regarding the Maturidis, mainly because of the great similarity between the creeds of the Maturidis and Asharis, and thus historically, most Scholars of the Sunnah have spoken regarding the Ash'arite creed more or less exclusively.

Following the absence of any authoritative work on the Maturidis, Abu Abdullaah Shams ud-Deen al-Afghaanee, who was born in 1372H, authored his book "Al-Maturidiyyah". Consisting of three volumes and close to 2100 pages, it is the most detailed and definitive treatment of the origins, history, doctrines and polemics of the Maturidiyyah.

Shams ud-Din al-Afghani himself was tutored and nurtured in the Maturidi way studying under his father and also Nidhaam ud-Din al-Hindee al-Hanafee al-Maturidi. And also under prominent Maturidi Naqshabandi Shaykhs, such as Muhammad Taahir bin Aasif al-Fanjafayree al-Hanafee al-Maturidi an-Naqshabandi, and also Abdur-Raheem Shatraalee al-Hanafee al-Maturidi.

After respecting and praising those whom he studied under and describing them with good intentions, deep knowledge, and explaining that he learnt the religion from them in the areas of tafseer, fiqh, adab, as well as Arabic and its grammar, kalaam, logic, philosophy and debate, he said (1/222-223):

Except that all of this does not stop me from frankly explaining the truth to them and that I advise them with that which I love for myself and for them of returning to the Salafi aqidah and throwing away the innovated beliefs, or that I should evaluate their beliefs with the scale of the Book and the Sunnah, and that I should explain their errors, as advice to them specifically and others besides them generally.

So after seeking counsel from Allaah, the Most High, I stood in opposition to them, and I was sure that I would fulfil the right due to the subject since I was from their companions for a period of time in many of their innovations and deviations. And I knew much of their obvious and hidden faults, just like I knew much of their secrets [concealed] under their covers, and much of their hidden secrets in their zawiyas (retreats), and their placing of enmity towards the Salafi aqidah and its carriers.

And the owner of the house is more knowledgeable of what is in it
And the people of Makkah know best its streets

And I saw that [all of] this is from the obligation upon me, and that it is from the most excellent of jihaad in the path of Allaah.

And how excellent is what has been said:

Uncovering the fault from every liar is from the religion
And [likewise] from every innovator that brought calamities
And had it not been for the Sunni men, then certainly, destroyed
Would have been the strongholds of Allaah's deen from every direction

Al-Afghani demonstrates a very rich and detailed knowledge of the Maturidi creed and its sources and in his work "al-Maturidiyyah" he relied upon many of the sources of the Maturidis that do not exist in Arabic. We will be drawing upon this book frequently in our articles on the Maturidi sect and its creed, doctrines and polemics, whilst noting that the Maturidiyyah have not been able to challenge the truth of what has been uncovered about them, and how can that be when the truth has come from one who was from amongst them?