Ahmed b. hanbel’in siyasî otorite karşısındaki tavrı

After coming to caliphate Me’mun stepped into action to start the Mihna process in four stages with the encouragement of the Mu’tezilî biased imams with the aim of breaking the influence of the Islamic scholar who he considered as a danger regarding the future of the state. The Islamic scholars who did not adopt Caliph’s ideas in the first three stages were threatened with death in the fourth stage. The Mihna period, which was thought to end with Me’mun’s death, gained a different aspect with Mu’tasım’s caliphate. It is Ahmed b. Hanbal who was exposed most to oppression and violence in this period when practices reminding inquisition era although for a short period and causing deep wounds in the Islamic world were performed. Ahmed b. Hanbal, who was released by Mu’tasım due to the public’s favor towards him had to continue his life secretly during Vasık’s era. Mihna practices were completely abrogated after Mutevekkil came to power and Ahmed b. Hanbal was rehabilitated.