Assignment for Section:
Friday, October 3, 1997

Reading Assignment: Tabari, History, 32:198-223 (cp); Hitti, Makers of Arab History, 76-94

What was at stake for al-Ma'mun in claiming that the Qur'an was created? What was important about this doctrine? Against whom was the Inquisition directed? Hint: the answer has something to do with caliphal authority.