Athariyya is a name for approaches in Sunni thought that rely on the Quran, Hadith, and the works of earlier generations in matters of doctrine. The title has been used for various movements and writers throughout history and does not indicate a single organization or leadership line.

Athariyya usually differs from some theological approaches in its discussion of divine attributes and limits of interpretation. It is more accurate to describe it as an intellectual tradition than to present it as a separate religion with fixed institutional boundaries; those affiliated with this approach may be jurisprudents of different schools.