Mutawakkil's attitude to the theological schools; case study of Mu'tazilah and Ahl al-Hadith

Mu'tazilites, as an intellectual theological school flourishing at the early Abbasid era, had a great influence on the establishment of Abbasid caliphate. This paper, using a descriptive and analytical method based on library resources, attempts to explain causes and contexts of the rise and decline of this intellectual school, as well as the relations between the Mu'tazilites and the other outstanding theological school known as Ahl al-Hadith. The main question of the paper is why Mutawakkil (r. 847-861), despite of the marvellous contribution of Mu'tazilites to intellectual development in Islamic society, was opposed to them. The study's conclusion is that caliph Ma'mun (r. 813-833), in confrontation with Amin (r. 809-813) and his supporting sect of al-Hashwiyah which denied the authority of Ma'mun, intended to ratify the opposite thought system of Mu'tazilites who stood against orthodox Arabs. After Ma'mun, Mutawakkil, again by supporting Ahl al-Hadith, combated Mu'tazilites and tried to restore Arab nationalism.