A critical analysis of the Modernists and the Hadeeth ... - Islam House

) Mu'tazilah who remained discredited throughout the
Umayyad rule gained a position of prominence and
influence during the Abbasids era when Ma'mun (212H
/827 CE) came to power and appointed them as judges within
the state.
At the behest of the Mu'tazilite theologians, who attributed
themselves to Imam Abu Hanifa in jurisprudence, Ma'mun
subjected the scholars, who opposed the Mu'tazili views, to
severe persecution. This policy continued during the reign of the
next two Abbasid rulers, al-Mu'tasim and al-Wathiq.
c) Translation of numerous books on Greek Philosophy
under the patronage of Ma'mun who was interested in having
Aristotle's work translated.
"He (Ma'mun) wrote to the Roman Emperor requesting him
to send all of Aristotle's works available to him. The Emperor
hesitated. He consulted his Christian scholars, who suggested,
'The books on philosophy are under lock and key in our country,
and none is allowed to read and teach them because they expel
respect for religion from the people's heart. We must send these
books to the Caliph of Islam so that the publicity of philosophy
will dampen the religious spirit of the Muslims.' The Emperor
had five camels loaded with these books and sent them to
Mamoon Rasheed."
Najeebabadi]
These books were then translated by Christian
scholars assigned by Mamoon.
[end quote from History of Islam (vol.2) by Akbar Shah
d) Mu'tazilah used 'Ilmul-Kalaam' to argue in defense of
Islam,
thus portraying themselves as defenders of the faith.
- 21 -