Pluriel

University platform for research on Islam

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Référence :

in Annali di scienze religiosi (ASR 5), 2012

English

2012

The Mihna. Deconstruction and reconsideration of the Mu’tazilite role in the “Inquisition

Abstract

The Miḥna has usually been attributed to the Mu‘tazilite theological school as expression of something unusual, a bid‘ah (Islamic innovation) related to a rationalist group of theologians that tried, in strict political cooperation with al-Ma‘mūn, to subvert the ‘Abbāsid caliphate system.

The full support of relevant political and religious authorities, during the Miḥna, to the caliph’s purpose permitted at the ‘Abbāsids to post-pone for few decades, a period of decadence which started with the murderer of al- Mutawakkil in 861/246.

It is significant to analyze the role played by the Mu‘tazilite school during the Miḥna, which if was theologically evident, it was also politically non-existent; a reconsideration of the importance of this rationalist school is necessary to make clearer who were the main persecutors during this short inquisitorial period in early ‘Abbāsid age.

Titre original : “The Mihna. Deconstruction and reconsideration of the Mu’tazilite role in the ‘Inquisition'”

Résumé

La Mihna a généralement été attribué à l’école théologique Mu’tazilite comme l’expression de quelque chose d’inhabituel, un bid’ah (innovation islamique) liée à un groupe rationaliste de théologiens qui a essayé, dans la coopération politique stricte avec al-Ma’mum, de renverser le  califat abbasside.

Le plein soutien des autorités politiques et religieuses compétentes, pendant la Mihna, à la fin du califat, a permis aux Abbassides de reporter de quelques décennies une période de décadence qui a commencé avec le meurtrier d’al-Mutawakkil en 861/246.

Il est significatif d’analyser le rôle joué par l’école Mu’tazilite pendant la Mihna, qui si elle était théologiquement fondée, était aussi politiquement absente ; une réévaluation de l’importance de cette école rationaliste est nécessaire pour clarifier qui étaient les principaux persécuteurs au cours de cette courte période inquisitoire au début de l’ère abbasside.

Titolo originale : The Mihna. Deconstruction and reconsideration of the Mu’tazilite role in the “Inquisition”

Sommario

La Miḥna è stata attribuita alla scuola teologica Mu‘tazilita in quanto espressione di qualche cosa di inusuale, una bid‘ah (innovazione nella fede islamica) legata a un gruppo di teologi razionalisti che cercarono, in stretta collaborazione con il califfo al-Ma‘mūn, di sovvertire il dominio ‘Abbasside.

Il totale sostegno di ragguardevoli autorità politiche e religiose, concesso, durante la Miḥna, all’autorità califfale, permise loro di postporre l’inizio di un periodo di decadenza che sarebbe cominciato con l’omicidio di al-Mutawakkil nell’861/246.

È quindi significativo analizzare il ruolo assunto dalla scuola Mu‘tazilita, il quale, se è stato teologicamente evidente, non lo fu dal punto di vista politico; riconsiderare l’importanza di questa scuola razionalista è necessario per chiarire quali siano state le effettive autorità atte a perseguire alcuni oppositori, in questo breve periodo d’inquisizione durante il primo secolo della storia ‘Abbasside.

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