Mutazilites of Basra and Baghdad: Their Differences

Mutazila is one of the most important theological movements which began to develop in Basra in the early second century of Hegira; and under the support of the Abbasid caliphs like Mamun, Mutasam, and Vatheq, it developed so quickly that a large number of Iraqi people, especially the residents of Baghdad joined this school. With the establishment of Baghdad and the presence of Abbasids in this city, the Mutazilites also travelled to Baghdad. Later, conflicts happened between the Mutazilites of Baghdad and those of Basra, causing Mutazila to be divided into two schools of Basra and Baghdad. These two Mutazilite schools shared common general principles; but, they differed in their interpretation of these principles. Tendency towards Shiism is the defining characteristic of the Mutazila of Baghdad, which distinguished it from the Mutazila of Basra. Furthermore, they differed in such issues as the creation of the Quran, necessity of grace, divine power, and necessity of the most suitable, reward and punishment, torture of infants, repentance and divine forgiveness, lifetime, the approaches to divine attributes, naming God, and other aspects. This writing is concerned with an examination of the most important differences between these two schools