leading Muslim scholars spoke about them. Yet they were prominent only in the East. Their influence grew, however, when al-Rashīd died and his son, known as al-Ma'mūn, assumed authority in the East and absorbed their teachings. Then, when he became caliph, he met with many of them and, towards the end of his life, called people to adopt their doctrine.
He wrote to Baghdad while at the frontier stronghold of Tarsus, in the land of Sis. At that time, it was Baghdad’s foremost frontier stronghold and one of the greatest frontier strongholds of the Muslims. Devout people came there from every region to serve on frontier guard duty. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal—may Allah be pleased with him—al-Sarī al-Saqatī, and others served there. Abū 'Ubayd held the office of judge there, as did Sālih ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal. It is therefore frequently mentioned in books of jurisprudence, for it was a major frontier stronghold.
From that frontier stronghold, he wrote to his deputy in Baghdad, Ishāq ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Mus'ab, calling upon people to declare, “The Quran is created.” No one complied. He then wrote a second letter, ordering that anyone who refused to comply be put in chains and sent to him. Most of them then complied. Seven who had refused were put in chains; five of these complied after being chained. Two remained who would not comply: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Muhammad ibn Nūh. They sent the two to him, but he died before they reached him. He had designated his brother Abū Ishāq as his successor. This was in 218 AH.
Ahmad ibn Hanbal remained imprisoned until 220 AH. The debates then unfolded as they did, until he silenced them with his arguments. Then, fearing unrest, they flogged him and released him, and the doctrine of