Thumama (Thumamah) ibn Ashras (died 828 CE/212-213 AH) [1] ( Arabic: ثمامة بن الأشرس), also known as Abu Maʿn al-Numayri (أبو معن النميري) was a Mu'tazila theologian during the era of the Abbasid Caliphate, the third Islamic caliphate. [2]
Thumama ibn Ashras was of Arab descent. [3] He served under an influential family during the Abbasid era, the Barmakids, and was arrested when they fell from favour in 802 CE. [4] His reputation was sufficiently restored by around the year 807 CE that Harun al-Ras̲h̲d had him join his expedition to Khorasan. [4]
Alon describes ibn Ashras as the 'court theologian' of Al-Ma'mun; [5] Nawas reckons him a 'prominent Mu'tazilite'. [6] Al-Ma'mun hoped to make him vizier, but ibn Ashras declined, apparently because the position of vizier was a target of controversy at the time; the caliph later reportedly gave ibn Ashras 300,000 dirhams to express his appreciation for ibn Ashras's services at court. [7] Ahmad ibn Abi Khalid al-Ahwal, named vizier in ibn Ashras's place, called ibn Ashras the 'only one' at court 'without an official title'. [7]
An ancient report suggests that ibn Ashras had convinced Al-Ma'mun to adopt Mu'tazila theology. [8] Another report, in History of Baghdad by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, states that ibn Ashras disparaged Abu-l-'Atahiya in a meeting before Al-Ma'mun, when the poet Atahiya had challenged ibn Ashras to defend Mu'tazila doctrine on the origin of human action. [9] [10]
At one point, ibn Ashras was held captive by Turks. He was treated so well during his imprisonment, however, that he grew to favour Turkish mercenaries. [11]
Unlike many theologians of the time, ibn Ashras did not write a large number of treatises. [12] Accordingly, his religious views survive mainly in reports from conversations and debates he had with other figures of the time, including Yahya ibn Aktham, with whom he discussed free will. [12]
Ibn Ashras taught that nonbelievers need not be blameworthy for their unbelief unless they explicitly rejected revelation. [1]
He argued that love occurs 'when the essences of souls have mingled through the bond of likeness'. [13]
Thumama (Thumamah) ibn Ashras (died 828 CE/212-213 AH) [1] ( Arabic: ثمامة بن الأشرس), also known as Abu Maʿn al-Numayri (أبو معن النميري) was a Mu'tazila theologian during the era of the Abbasid Caliphate, the third Islamic caliphate. [2]
Thumama ibn Ashras was of Arab descent. [3] He served under an influential family during the Abbasid era, the Barmakids, and was arrested when they fell from favour in 802 CE. [4] His reputation was sufficiently restored by around the year 807 CE that Harun al-Ras̲h̲d had him join his expedition to Khorasan. [4]
Alon describes ibn Ashras as the 'court theologian' of Al-Ma'mun; [5] Nawas reckons him a 'prominent Mu'tazilite'. [6] Al-Ma'mun hoped to make him vizier, but ibn Ashras declined, apparently because the position of vizier was a target of controversy at the time; the caliph later reportedly gave ibn Ashras 300,000 dirhams to express his appreciation for ibn Ashras's services at court. [7] Ahmad ibn Abi Khalid al-Ahwal, named vizier in ibn Ashras's place, called ibn Ashras the 'only one' at court 'without an official title'. [7]
An ancient report suggests that ibn Ashras had convinced Al-Ma'mun to adopt Mu'tazila theology. [8] Another report, in History of Baghdad by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, states that ibn Ashras disparaged Abu-l-'Atahiya in a meeting before Al-Ma'mun, when the poet Atahiya had challenged ibn Ashras to defend Mu'tazila doctrine on the origin of human action. [9] [10]
At one point, ibn Ashras was held captive by Turks. He was treated so well during his imprisonment, however, that he grew to favour Turkish mercenaries. [11]
Unlike many theologians of the time, ibn Ashras did not write a large number of treatises. [12] Accordingly, his religious views survive mainly in reports from conversations and debates he had with other figures of the time, including Yahya ibn Aktham, with whom he discussed free will. [12]
Ibn Ashras taught that nonbelievers need not be blameworthy for their unbelief unless they explicitly rejected revelation. [1]
He argued that love occurs 'when the essences of souls have mingled through the bond of likeness'. [13]