Thumama ibn Ashras was of
Arab descent. He served under an influential family during the Abbasid era, the
Barmakids, and was arrested when they fell from favour in 802 CE. Alon describes ibn Ashras as the 'court theologian' of
Al-Ma'mun; Nawas reckons him a 'prominent Mu'tazilite'. Al-Ma'mun hoped to make him
vizier, but ibn Ashras declined, apparently because the position of vizier was a target of controversy at the time; the caliph later reportedly gave ibn Ashras 300,000
dirhams to express his appreciation for ibn Ashras's services at court.
Ahmad ibn Abi Khalid al-Ahwal, named vizier in ibn Ashras's place, called ibn Ashras the 'only one' at court 'without an official title'. An ancient report suggests that ibn Ashras had convinced Al-Ma'mun to adopt Mu'tazila theology. Another report, in
History of Baghdad by
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, states that ibn Ashras disparaged
Abu-l-'Atahiya in a meeting before Al-Ma'mun, when the poet Atahiya had challenged ibn Ashras to defend Mu'tazila doctrine on the origin of human action. At one point, ibn Ashras was held captive by Turks. He was treated so well during his imprisonment, however, that he grew to favour Turkish mercenaries. == Doctrines ==