Mu'tazilism
Islamic rationalist theological school emphasizing God's unity and justice.
Mu'tazilism is an Islamic theological school that emerged in early Islamic history and flourished in Basra and Baghdad. Its adherents, the Mu'tazilites, were known for their neutrality in the dispute between Ali and his opponents after the death of the third caliph, Uthman. By the 10th century, the term had come to refer to a distinctive Islamic school of speculative theology (kalām) founded by Wasil ibn Ata. The school developed an Islamic type of rationalism based on principles including the oneness and justice of God, human free will, and the creation of the Quran.
- founded_by
- Wasil ibn Ata
- field
- Islamic speculative theology (kalām)
- key_centers
- Basra and Baghdad
- known_for
- Rejecting the uncreated Quran; rationalism; human free will; the problem of evil
- political_height
- Mihna (833–851 CE) under Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun
Lore & Background
The name Mu'tazili derives from the Arabic root meaning 'to separate' or 'withdraw.' According to tradition, Wasil ibn Ata withdrew from the study circle of Hasan al-Basri over a theological disagreement about the status of a sinner, leading to the formation of a new circle. The group later referred to themselves as Ahl al-Tawḥīd wa al-ʿAdl ('people of monotheism and justice'). The verb iʿtazala was also used to designate a neutral party in a dispute, and some scholars argue that the theological Mu'tazilism was a continuation of an earlier political Mu'tazilism.
Reader's Guide
Mu'tazilism reached its political height during the Mihna, an 18-year period (833–851 CE) of religious persecution instituted by the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun, during which Sunni scholars were punished, imprisoned, or killed unless they conformed to Mu'tazila doctrine. The policy was reversed by al-Mutawakkil. The Aghlabids also adhered to Mu'tazilism as the state doctrine of Ifriqiya, and leading figures of the Graeco-Arabic translation movement under the Umayyad caliph of Córdoba al-Hakam II were followers. Mu'tazilism also flourished under the Buyids in Iraq and Persia. Today, it persists mainly in the Maghreb among those who call themselves the Wasiliyah, and has influenced the Quranist movement and the Neo-Mu'tazila literary approach to Quranic interpretation.
Did You Know?
- The name Mu'tazili comes from the Arabic root meaning 'to separate' or 'withdraw,' linked to Wasil ibn Ata's withdrawal from Hasan al-Basri's study circle.
- Mu'tazilites rejected the doctrine of the Quran as uncreated and co-eternal with God, arguing that God 'must have preceded his own speech.'
- The Mihna was an 18-year period (833–851 CE) of religious persecution by Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun against those who did not conform to Mu'tazila doctrine.
- The Aghlabids imposed Mu'tazilism as the state doctrine of Ifriqiya.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mu'tazilism?
Mu'tazilism is a rationalist school of Islamic speculative theology (kalām) that took shape in Basra and Baghdad during the early centuries of Islam. It is best known for insisting that reason must guide theological interpretation and for holding that the Quran is a created text rather than something eternal and uncreated.
Who founded Mu'tazilism?
The school is traditionally traced back to Wasil ibn Ata, who separated from the mainstream assembly in Basra over how to judge a Muslim who commits a grave sin. His followers became known as the Mu'tazila, a name meaning 'the ones who withdrew,' reflecting that initial schism.
What are the core principles of Mu'tazilism?
The framework rests on God's absolute oneness, God's inherent justice, human free will, the obligation to command good and forbid evil, and the position that the Quran is a created utterance. Together these principles place rational inquiry at the center of Islamic theological discourse.
What was the Mihna and how did it involve Mu'tazilism?
The Mihna (833–851 CE) was a period under Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun when Mu'tazilite doctrine—especially the createdness of the Quran—was enforced as official state orthodoxy. Scholars who refused to accept the doctrine faced imprisonment or exile, and the inquisition ended only after al-Ma'mun's successors relaxed the policy.
Why does Mu'tazilism matter in Islamic intellectual history?
By making rational argument a legitimate tool for understanding divine attributes and scripture, Mu'tazilism set the stage for centuries of Islamic philosophical and legal debate. Its emphasis on free will and the problem of evil also shaped how later theologians grappled with questions of divine justice and human responsibility.
More in Islamic Traditions And Concepts 1-21
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