It was in this context of the early second/eighth century that the first systematic theological school, the Mu‘tazila, emerged in Iraq. The person believed to be the first Mu‘tazili and the father of the Mu‘tazili movement is known as Wasil ibn Ata (d. 131/749). He was a student of Hasan al-Basri. A commonly told story in relation to the emergence of the Mu‘tazila is the following. One day, when al-Basri was with his pupils, someone came and asked whether people who committed grave sins should be considered Muslims or, according to the Khariji view, be declared unbelievers. The mainstream view at the time was that such a person was a sinner but still a Muslim. Hasan al-Basri wanted to take the time to reflect on the question and provide a properly considered opinion.