Memories of al-Shāfiʿī’s Inquisition

Abstract This paper studies an account of the “inquisition” ( miḥna ) of Muḥammad b. Idrīs al-Shāfiʿī (d. 204/820) by the caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd (r. 170–193/786–809). In this account, al-Shāfiʿī is twice brought to the court of the caliph in chains but he is able to win the caliph’s favor through his rhetorical eloquence. The account is compared to that of the inquisition of Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal (d. 241/855) during the reign of the caliph al-Muʿtaṣim (r. 218–227/833–42). The paper shows the resonances between the two accounts, especially the heroic resistance to the caliphal questioning and the steadfast adherence to each jurist’s theological beliefs. The story of al-Shāfiʿī’s miḥna is structured so as to create a story for him that is reminiscent of the story of Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal.