Mutazil

Mutazila, or Muʿtazila, is an early Islamic theological movement that arose in the 8th century in Basra and later spread to Baghdad and other centers. The name comes from muʿtazala, meaning those who withdraw or detach themselves, referring to a group that pursued independent, rational inquiry into creed and law. Muʿtazilites emphasized the use of reason (kalam) alongside revelation in theological discourse and argued for a disciplined, rational approach to understanding God, the world, and morality.

Core ideas associated with Muʿtazila include a strong emphasis on tawḥīd (the oneness and transcendence of God) and a critique of anthropomorphic interpretations of God’s attributes. They posited divine justice (adl), asserting that God must be just and that human beings have meaningful moral responsibility. They argued for human free will and the idea that God creates human actions, while humans acquire or “obtain” those actions (kasb), to preserve accountability. Another central doctrine was the createdness of the Qur’an, maintaining that the Qur’an is a created rather than eternal attribute of God, in order to avoid ascribing divinity to created things and to defend God’s transcendence.

Historically, Muʿtazila enjoyed influence during the Abbasid era, notably during periods of state-backed rational theology and the Mihna (inquisition) over the Qur’anic doctrine. They faced opposition from rival schools, particularly the Ashʿarī and Māturīdī traditions, and declined in prominence after the 11th century. Nevertheless, Muʿtazila contributed to debates on reason, justice, free will, and the relationship between revelation and rational inquiry in Islamic thought.