The Mihna: The Islamic Inquisition
The Mihna began under Caliph al-Ma’mun (r. 813-833 CE), who embraced Mu’tazilite rationalist theology. The Mu’tazila argued that the Quran, being created in time, cannot be eternal — because only Allah is eternal. To say the Quran is eternal would be to make it a second eternal entity alongside Allah, compromising tawhid.
Al-Ma’mun imposed this view as state doctrine and required scholars to publicly affirm it or face punishment.
Ahmad ibn Hanbal refused. He was summoned to Baghdad, imprisoned, and brought before al-Ma’mun (who died before the confrontation could conclude). Under al-Mu’tasim, he was flogged so severely that he lost consciousness. Even then, he would not say the words.
His response to those who pressured him: “Show me a single Companion who said the Quran is created — and I will say it. If not, I will follow them, not you.”
The End of the Mihna
The Mihna ended under Caliph al-Mutawakkil (r. 847-861 CE), who reversed the policy and restored the traditional position. Ahmad was vindicated and became the most celebrated scholar of his generation — crowds of hundreds of thousands attended his lectures.
He continued to refuse state stipends and positions, supporting himself through trade.
Al-Musnad: The Great Collection
Ahmad’s Musnad organizes hadiths by the name of the Companion who narrated them — not by legal topic. This made it a reference work for hadith scholarship rather than a law manual. His methodology: include all hadiths one judges to be transmissible, note weaknesses, and let subsequent scholars judge.
See also: Sunna Al Nabawi, Seerah Imam Malik, Seerah Al Shafii, Seerah Abu Hanifa, Ilm Al Kalam, Quran Sciences