The Abbasid Caliphs Mamum and Mutasim, who ruled in the 9th Century, established a group of scholars who believed that “God, while beyond the imagination of humans to imagine or define, nevertheless existed within the framework of rational thought”. In other words, they did not simply accept the Koran but subjected it to argument and criticism. This was heresy to others. A man named Ahmed ibn Hanbal established an inquisition that sentenced supporters of the “rationalists”, and especially many Shias, who were believers in a rational approach to religion, to be burned alive. Riots ensued, but the literal believers in every word of the Koran mainly had their way, despite the efforts of the Caliphs to stop the religious strife. It was the beginning of the end of the Caliphate and of the power of thoughtful and civilized moslem culture.

The direct descendants of the supporters of Hanbal are now triumphant in Saudi Arabia and are known as Wahabis. The Saudi regime did a devil’s deal whereby the family would rule, but the extremist Wahabis would be allowed to dictate religious policy unmolested. They now export literalism – or Hanbalism- all over the islamic world, and are largely responsible for religious violence in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan.

I have nothing against the Koran. It is but one of many interpretations of God, the universe and the condition of mankind. But we have too many literalists, some of them in America (who take every word of the bible literally). There are words of wisdom both in the Koran and the Bible, and Epicureans should treat them with respect. But when believers behead or burn alive their opponents this is unendurable, barbaric and uncivilized.
(Some points extracted from a review of Justin Marozzi’s book “Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood?” in the London Review of Books)