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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A History of Muslim Philosophy Volume 1, Book 3 Chapter 10: Mu’tazalism Mu’tazilism by Mir Valiuddin, M.A Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Osmania University, Hyderabad Deccan (India) The General Mu’tazilite Position Subsequent to the times of the of the Prophet of Islam, the Mu'tazilah creed made its appearance. It had its inception nearly two centuries after the migration (Hijrah) of the Holy Prophet to Madinah.

The Mu'tazilites were thoroughgoing rationalists. They believed that the arbiter of whatever is revealed has to be theoretical reason. Let us for a moment consider why the Mu'tazilites were so named. The story goes that one day Imam al‑Hasan al‑Basri was imparting instruction to his pupils in a mosque.

Before the lessons were finished someone turned up and addressed him thus: “Now, in our own times a sect[^1] of people has made its appearance, the mem­bers of which regard the perpetrator of a grave sin as an unbeliever and consider him outside the fold of Islam. Yet another group of people have appeared[^2] who give hope of salvation to the perpetrator of a grave sin. They lay down that such a sin can do no harm to a true believer.

They do not in the least regard action as a part of faith and hold that as worship is of no use to one who is an unbeliever, so also sin can do no harm to one who is a believer in God.

What, in your opinion, is the truth and what creed should we adopt?” Imam al‑Hasan al‑Basri was on the point of giving a reply to this query when a long‑necked pupil of his got up and said: “The perpetrator of grave sins is neither a complete unbeliever nor a perfect believer; he is placed mid­way between unbelief and faith‑an intermediate state ( manzilah bain al‑manzilatain ).” Having spoken he strode to another corner of the mosque and began to explain this belief of his to others.[^3] This man was Wasil ibn `Ata.

The Imam shot a swift glance at him and said, “I’tazala `anna,” i. e.,”He has withdrawn from us.” From that very day Wasil and his followers were called al‑Mu'tazilah, the Withdrawers or Secessionists. Ibn Munabbih says that the title of al‑Mu'tazilah came into vogue after the death of al‑Hasan al‑Basri. According to his statement, when al-Hasan passed away, Qatadah succeeded him and continued his work.

`Amr ibn `Ubaid and his followers avoided the company of Qatadah; therefore, they were given the name of al‑Mu'tazilah.