That was when the people pledged allegiance to Imam ‘Ali...

That was when the people pledged allegiance to Imam ‘Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. So, a group of people retired from pledging allegiance to him. Among them were Sa‘d b. Abï Waqqas, ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar, Usama b. Zayd, and Mohammed b. Muslima al-Ansari. Hence, they were called the Mu‘tazilites (the ones who retired from). They also did not support Imam ‘Ali in the Battle of the Camel and Siffïn. Moreover, al-Ahnaf b. Qays retired from the war.

Then, he said to his people: “It is better for you to retire from the discord.”[^4] Therefore, the Mu‘tazilites appeared as a political thought at that time. As for their theological school, it appeared in the last years of the first century A. H. The Mu‘tazilites and Policy The Mu‘tazilites had religious tendencies and theological methods. They supported the rule standing at those times. Their leaders supported the authorities and justified their political behavior.

Though the leaders of the Mu‘tazilites affected asceticism and worship, they followed the governments standing at those times. The reason for that is that they adopted the Imamate of the mafdul (the less excellent). They said that it was permitted to prefer him to the fadil (the most excellent).

They embraced this view to justify the caliphate of the Umayyads and the like, who assumed the leadership of government though there were persons more knowledgeable than them in the affairs of religion and the precepts of Islamic law. With that they obtained the absolute support and respect of the Umayyads. After the end of the Umayyad government, they joined the Abbasid government. Al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi turned away from the religious scholars. He was cruel towards them.

He showed enmity towards them and knowledge. However, he admired ‘Amru b. ‘Ubayd, the spiritual leader of the Mu‘tazilites. The Abbasid kings also respected and honored Ahmed b. Abï Dawud, the second leader of the Mu‘tazilites. Concerning him al-Mu‘tasim said: “By Allah, we adorn with the like of this (Ahmed), rejoice at his nearness. He is loyal to us.”[^5] Al-Mu‘tasim visited Ahmed when he became ill. But he visited none of his brothers and his relatives.

When he was asked about his visit to Ahmed, he replied: “Of course, I visit this person. For he rewards me and thanks me.