Editing Al-Wathiq (section)

===Mu'tazilism and the abortive coup of al-Khuza'i===
[[File:Mihna Map.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|alt=Map of the Middle East with brief descriptions of events associated with the mihna|Map of the [[Mu'tazilite]] {{transliteration|ar|[[mihna]]}} and events associated with it]]
Like his father, al-Wathiq was an ardent [[Mu'tazilite]]—the sources agree that he was strongly influenced by the chief {{transliteration|ar|qadi}}, Ibn Abi Duwad{{sfn|Kraemer|1989|p=28 (note 94)}}—but also, like his father, maintained good relations with the [[Alids]].{{sfn|Zetterstéen|Bosworth|van Donzel|2002|p=178}}{{sfn|Turner|2013|p=222}} In the third year of his caliphate, al-Wathiq revived the inquisition ({{transliteration|ar|[[mihna]]}}), sending officials to question jurists on their views on the controversial topic of the [[createdness of the Quran]].{{sfn|Kan|2012|p=549}} Al-Wathiq supported the Mu'tazili view that the Quran was created and not eternal, and hence fell within the authority of a God-guided [[imam]] (i.e., the caliph) to interpret according to the changing circumstances.{{sfn|Kennedy|2004|pp=161–162}} Even during a [[Arab–Byzantine prisoner exchanges|prisoner exchange]] held with the [[Byzantine Empire]] in 845, the ransomed Muslim prisoners were questioned on their opinions regarding the topic, with those giving unsatisfactory answers reportedly left to remain in captivity.{{sfn|Kan|2012|p=549}}{{sfn|Kraemer|1989|pp=39–40}} Thus [[Ahmad ibn Hanbal]], the founder of the [[Hanbali]] [[Madhhab|school of jurisprudence]], who opposed the Mu'tazili doctrine, was forced to cease his teachings and only resumed them after al-Wathiq's death.{{sfn|Kan|2012|p=549}}

In 846, a well-respected notable, [[Ahmad ibn Nasr ibn Malik al-Khuza'i]], a descendant of one of the original missionaries of the [[Abbasid Revolution]], launched a plot in Baghdad to overthrow al-Wathiq, his Turkic commanders, and the Mu'tazilite doctrines.{{sfn|Turner|2013|p=224}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2006|pp=231–232}} His followers distributed money to the people, and the date for the uprising was scheduled for the night of 4/5 April 846. However, according to al-Tabari, those who were supposed to sound a drum as the signal to rise got drunk and did so a day early, and there was no response.{{sfn|Kennedy|2006|pp=231–232}}{{sfn|Kraemer|1989|pp=26–29}} [[Khatib al-Baghdadi]] on the other hand reports simply that an informer gave the plot away to the authorities.{{sfn|Turner|2013|p=224}} The deputy governor of the city, [[Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Mus'abi|Muhammad ibn Ibrahim]]—the governor, his brother [[Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Mus'abi|Ishaq]], was absent—inquired on the event, and the conspiracy was revealed. Al-Khuza'i and his followers were arrested and brought before al-Wathiq at Samarra.{{sfn|Kraemer|1989|pp=29–31}}

The Caliph interrogated al-Khuza'i publicly, though more on the thorny theological issue of the createdness of the Quran rather than on the actual rebellion. Ahmad's answers enraged al-Wathiq so much, that the Caliph took al-Samsamah, a famous sword of the [[pre-Islamic Arabia|pre-Islamic period]], and personally joined in the execution of Ahmad, along with the Turks [[Bugha al-Sharabi]] and [[Sima al-Dimashqi]]. Ahmad's corpse was publicly displayed next to the [[gibbet]] of Babak in Baghdad, while twenty of his followers were thrown into prison.{{sfn|Kraemer|1989|pp=31–35}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2006|p=232}}{{sfn|Turner|2013|pp=224–228}}

The same year there was a break-in at the public treasury ({{transliteration|ar|bayt al-mal}}) in Samarra. Thieves made off with 42,000 silver [[dirham]]s and a small amount of [[gold dinar]]s. The {{transliteration|ar|[[sahib al-shurta]]}} (chief of security), [[Yazid al-Huwani]], a deputy of Itakh, pursued and caught them.{{sfn|Kraemer|1989|pp=36–37}} Turner points out that this episode may provide some premonition of the [[Anarchy at Samarra|crisis]] to erupt in later decades: security even at the main palace was lax, and, based on the thieves' loot, the treasury appears to have been almost empty at the time.{{sfn|Turner|2013|p=225 (note 57)}}