Mihnat al-Quran: Ordeal Regarding the Creation of the Quran

Mamun was the follower of Mutazila theology, which derived its beliefs on Islamic principles using intellectual reasoning. The Mutazila theology opposed the beliefs of the people of Hadith who believed in the absolute literal meaning of the Hadith. Among various differences between these two groups of Sunni schools of thought, there was a particular subject about the creation of the Quran that took much attention in their debates. Both groups believed that God always existed. However, Mutazila believed that the Quran was created by God when it was revealed to the Prophet, while the people of Hadith believed the Quran existed ever since God has existed. In the last year of Mamuns government, he decided to enforce Mutazilas belief about the creation of the Quran. He ordered his government officials, including judges, to be questioned about their belief regarding the creation of the Quran and ousted anyone who had beliefs opposing the Mutazilas. Mamuns decision caused outrage among the people of Hadith. Many were tortured and imprisoned because they held onto their belief. For example, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the founder of the Hanbali school of thought, was among those who insisted in their belief and was punished by lashes. This incident is known in history as Mihnat al-Quran or Ordeal [regarding the creation] of the Quran, and was the first time in Islamic history that the people were questioned about their beliefs. Mamuns policy to enforce the Mutazilas belief about the creation of the Quran was continued by his successors, Mutasim and Wathiq. Although Mutazilas belief about the creation of Quran was the same as the Shias, the Shia Imams asked their followers not to involve themselves in such an absurd dispute in the society. The Shia Imams knew that this endless, trivial debate will only cause hatred and division among the Muslims, thus weakening the entire Islamic society. When one of the Shias from Baghdad asked Imam Hadi in this regard, the Im

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