Inquisition in Early Islam: The Competition for Political and Religious Authority in the Abbasid Empire by John P. Turner
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Inquisition in Early Islam : The Competition for Political and Religious Authority in the Abbasid Empire, by John P. Turner (Library of Middle East History, 35) (London & New York: I. B. Tauris, 2013), xvi + 228 pp., ISBN: 978-1-78076-164-0, £56.00 (hb) (First paragraph) The dramatic events surrounding the miḥna (inquisition) have been the subject of immense academic interest over recent years. It is frequently acknowledged that their historical unfolding represents a key milestone in the history of early Islamic theological thought; and many scholars link the political fortunes of the early ʿAbbāsid empire to the episode. Imposed by the caliph al-Maʾmūn (ruled 198-218/813-833), during the miḥna the class of learned scholars was compelled to submit to the doctrine that the Qurʾān was created; it became a salient point of contention in theological discourses with proto-Sunnī orthodoxy defining itself through opposition to the policy. Despite the death of al-Maʾmūn, shortly after its imposition, the policy was continued during the successive caliphates of al-Muʿtaṣim (ruled 218-227/833-842) and al-Wāthiq (ruled 227-232/842-847). Al-Mutawakkil revoked it in 232/847...
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