Quranic createdness

Createdness refers to the doctrinal position that the Qur’an was created, rather than having always existed and thus being "uncreated". The dispute over which was true became a significant point of contention in early Islam. The Islamic rationalist philosophical school known as the Mu'tazila held that if the Quran is God's word, logically God "must have preceded his own speech". Traditionists, on the other hand, held the numerous hadith support the contention that Qur’an was co-eternal with God and hence, uncreated. In the Muslim world, the doctrine that the Quran is uncreated has been unchallenged among the Sunni Muslims for many centuries, while Shia Twelvers and Zaydi, and the Kharijites believe the Quran is created.Sufi philosophers view the question as artificial or wrongly framed.

The controversy over the doctrine among Sunnis came to a head during the reign of Abassid Caliph Abd Allah al-Ma’mun. In 827 CE, al-Ma’mun publicly adopted the doctrine of createdness, and six year later instituting an inquisition known as the mihna (test) to “ensure acquiescence in this doctrine”. According to Sunni tradition when "tested" Traditionist Ahmad ibn Hanbal refused to accept the doctrine of createdness despite two years imprisonment and being scourged until unconscious. Eventually, thanks at least in part to Hanbal's courage and commitment, a new Caliph ended the mihna, the Mu'tazila fell from favor, and orthodoxy resumed its dominance.

In coming years it was the minority of Muslims who believed in Quranic createdness who were on the receiving end of the sword or lash. 12th century Almoravid jurist Qadi Ayyad, citing the work of Malik ibn Anas, wrote that:

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