THE ZAIDISM

[Taqavi]

 

Who are the Zaidis and what exclusive beliefs do they have?

 

Introduction to Zaidis:

Zaidis are individuals who believe in the Imamate of Imam Ali, Imam Hasan and Imam Hussein (AS),[1] and they believe that an Imam is someone who rises up and enforces what is good and forbids what is evil,[2] and this Imam must be from the descendants of Lady Fatimah (SA).[3] This belief emerged during the uprising of Zaid, and some believed in the Imamate of Zaid, the son of Imam Sajjad (AS), and anyone from the Prophet's family (AS) who rose up after him with armed rebellion.[4]

Regions where Zaidis have historically been present:

Areas where the widespread presence of Zaidis can be noted include Tabaristan (north of Iran)[5] and Yemen as one of the most important centers of Zaidi presence.[6]

The most important uprisings carried out by Zaidis throughout history:

These uprisings include the uprising of Yahya ibn Zaid, [7] Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Hasan, [8] Ibrahim ibn Abdullah ibn al-Hasan, [9] Isa ibn Zaid ibn Ali ibn al-Hussein, [10] Yahya ibn Abdullah ibn al-Hasan, [11] Idris ibn Abdullah ibn al-Hasan, [12] Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Isma'il ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Hasan, [13] Yahya ibn Hussain ibn Qasim Rasi who successfully established a government in Yemen[14] and kept the Zaidi government in power for a long time despite facing many challenges, until ultimately, during the time of Badr ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya, the Zaidi government fell in 1382 A.H through a coup orchestrated by Abdullah Salal and with the support of Jamal Abdul Nasser, the leader of the Egyptian government. [15]

The influence of Zaidi thought in contemporary Yemeni history:

One of the notable impacts of this ideology in contemporary history is the war between the Houthis as a revolutionary Zaidi movement and the Yemeni government at that time.[16]

Main beliefs of Zaidis:

Some of the specific beliefs of the Zaidis include that the Imam must be from the Hashemite, Alawite, and Fatimid lineage, and that no one besides the descendants of Imam Ali and Fatimah (AS) has the right to imamate. Another belief is in the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil.[17]

Famous Zaidi governments throughout history:

1. Tabaristan Zaidi government: Abu Muhammad al-Hasan, al-Nasir al-Kabir al-Atarush was an Imam of the Zaidis and associated with the Naseri Zaidis. He spent fourteen years inviting people to Islam in the land of Dailam and ruled there for three years after entering Tabaristan in 301 A.H.[18]

2. Yemeni Zaidi government: The Yemeni Zaidi government was established by Yahya bin Hussain bin Qasim Rasi, a descendant of Imam Hasan (AS), after the influence of Zaidi thought. [19]

Causes of the emergence of Zaidism:

It can be said that Zaid bin Ali, the brother of Imam Baqir (AS), rose up in Kufa against the oppressive Umayyad rule, and he had supporters and followers who rose up against the unjust rule. The main reason for the formation of Zaidi thought was the oppression of the Umayyads.[20]

Zaidi sects:

There are different opinions about the groups and sects within Zaidism, but the well-known sects are Jarrudiyya, Sulaymaniyya, and Batriyya.

The Jarrudiyya followers of Abi Jarud Ziyad bin Al-Munzir Al-Abdi were among the companions of Imam Baqir (AS) who deviated from the true doctrine. And he believed that after Imam Ali (AS) that there was the designation in his imamate, there was no longer any designations based on a person, but it determined the Imamate description, and whoever matched this description was deemed an obligatory Imam.

The Batriyya sect followed Abu Ismail Katheer bin Ismail bin Nafi Al-Nowai and believed that there is no problem in giving priority to the inferior over the superior with the consent of the superior, and that Abu Bakr and Umar did not commit any mistakes because Imam Ali (AS) did not fight with them over the Caliphate.

Another group are followers of Sulayman bin Jareer known as the Sulaymaniyya. [21]

Similarities between Imamiyyah and Zaidis:

Imamiyyah and Zaidis share beliefs in the attributes of Allah, monotheism, justice, the designation in the imamate of Imam Ali (AS), and his superiority after the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). But differ on some issues such as taqiyah, infallibility, the knowledge of the Imam, and the imamate after Imam Sajjad (AS). [22]

 

---

[1] . History of Zaidis in the second and third centuries of Hijri: Fazhet al-Shami, translators: Seyyed Mohammad Thaqfi and Ali Akbar Mahdipour, vol.1, p. 26.

[2] . Qamus al-rijal: al-Tostari, al-Sheikh Mohamad Taqi, vol: 4 p: 565.

[3] . Al-Zaydis, between Imamism and Ahl al-Sunnah, an analytical historical study of origins, emergences, beliefs and differences: Sheikh Sami Al-Ghurairi, Vol: 1 P: 381.

[4] . Ibid, p: 387.

[5] . History of Islamic Sects: Hossein Sabri, vol:2, p: 78. 

[6] . Introduction to the Zaidis of Yemen: Yahya Taleb Mashari Al-Sharif, Vol: 1 P: 12.

[7] . Al-Zaydis, between Imamism and Ahl al-Sunnah, an analytical historical study of origins, emergences, beliefs and differences: Sheikh Sami Al-Ghurairi, Vol: 1 P: 523.

[8] . Ibid, P: 528.

[9] . Ibid, P: 536.

[10] . Ibid, P: 540.

[11] . Ibid, P: 545.

[12] . Ibid, P: 547.

[13] . Ibid, P: 548.

[14] . Shiism in history: Seyyed Ahmad Reza Khezri, vol.1, p.268.

[15] . Ibid, P: 273.

[16] . Ansar Allah movement of Yemen, p. 157.

[17] . Introduction to the Zaidis of Yemen: Yahya Taleb Mashari Al-Sharif, Vol: 1 Pp: 19-20.

[18] . Umada al-Talib in Ansab al-Abi Talib: Ibn Anba, Vol: 1 P: 308.

[19] . History of Zaidis in the second and third centuries of Hijri: Fazhet al-Shami, translators: Seyyed Mohammad Thaqfi and Ali Akbar Mahdipour, vol.1, p. 231.

[20] . Zaidis' political and intellectual life: Ahmad Shoqi Ebrahim Al-Omarji, p: 32. 

[21] . Ibid, Pp: 82-92.

[22] . Ibid, Pp: 228-230.