The Mihna Inquisition, instituted by Caliph al-Ma'mun in 833, enforced the Mu'tazilite doctrine of the created Qur'an, targeting Sunni scholars for imprisonment and execution. This period marked a significant conflict within Islamic thought, as it pitted rationalist interpretations against traditionalist views. The inquisition had lasting effects on Islamic scholarship and the relationship between religious authority and intellectual freedom.

The Mihna Inquisition instituted by Caliph al-Ma'mun in 833 strengthened orthodox Sunni scholarship and influenced poetic expressions of theological resistance and faith under persecution in Arabic literature. Poets like Al-Ma'arri and Ibn al-Rumi navigated the complexities of belief and dissent in their works.