Straight from this book
Imamis (The Twelver)
The Shi'ites asserted that the Islamic caliphate, of which esoteric guidance and spiritual leadership are inseparable elements, belongs to Ali and his descendants. They also believed that according to the specification of the Prophet the Imams of the Household of the Prophet are twelve in number. Shi'ism held, moreover, that the external teachings of the Quran, which are the injunctions and regulations of the Shari'ah and include the principles of a complete spiritual life, are valid and applicable for everyone at all times, and are not to be abrogated until the Day of
Judgment. These injunctions and regulations must be learned through the guidance of the Household of the Prophet.
Imamis vs. Zaydis
From a consideration of these points it becomes clear that the difference between Twelve-Imam Shi'ism and Zaydism is that the Zaydis usually do not consider the imamate to belong solely to
the Household of the Prophet and do not limit the number of Imams to twelve. Also they do not follow the jurisprudence of the Household of the Prophet as do the Twelve-Imam Shi'ites.
Imamis vs. Ismailis
The difference between the Twelve-Imam Shi'ism and Isma'ilism lies in that for the latter the imamate revolves around the number seven and prophecy does not terminate with the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Also for them, change and transformation in the injunctions of the Shari'ah are admissible, as is even rejection of the duty of following Shari'ah, especially among the Batinis. In contrast, the Twelve-Imam Shi'ites consider the Prophet to be the "seal of prophecy" and believe him to have twelve successors and executors of his will. They hold the external aspect of the Shari'ah to be valid and impossible to abrogate. They affirm that the Quran has both an exoteric and an esoteric aspect.
Reference
Shia by Allamah Sayyed Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai
I've read this book as translated by Sayyid Nasr, and it contains assumptions about the Zaydis which have no basis (with all due respect to Allamah Tabataba'i), two of which you bring up.
ReplyDelete1.) The Zaydis assert that it is better to be ruled by a non-sayyid imam who rises up for Islam than an oppressive and unworthy regime during the period after Imam Zayd's martyrdom. But since imamah had been the exclusive right of Imam Ali, followed by Imam al-Hasan, then Imam al-Husayn, it is preferable for someone among 'itrat Ahl al-Bayt to take command in their community.
2.) Today, the only Zaydi communities that remain are in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, descendants of those once ruled by the Rassid Imams. The jurisprudence of the first Rassid Imam, al-Hadi Yahya bin Husayn al-Rassi, had been influenced by the proto-jurisprudence of Abu Hanifa to a SMALL extent, to say nothing of a) the jurisprudence of other sayyid Zaydi imams in the Maghreb, Iberia, and Gilan, or b) even of most of the later imams in southwestern Arabia who were scholars in their own right and were often influenced by the fiqh of the Isma'ilis as well as that of the Imamis.
Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI will have to look back in the original book to see what is being written. When Allama Tabatabai says the Zaydi do not restrict to the family of Muhammad, I am wondering if he means
a) does he mean that the Zaydis allow the Hashimi (not children of Fatima but still family of Muhammad) to become the caliphs?
II) Or he means that the Zaydis allow anyone to become a caliph without having a link to Fatima or the Prophet?
b) As to your second question, what you said here has been mentioned by another brother here http://researchintoothersects.blogspot.com/2012/01/it-is-too-early-to-post-something-about.html
I have not yet done a detail analysis of their Jurisprudence or gone through some dynasties associated with them. Currently, I have only manage to have an overview of the sect. There is a lot of works that need to be done.
One of the conditions for being a Zaydi Imam is being from Ahl ul Bayt, i.e. Sayyid from Hassan or Hussain. Unlike the Twelvers, they do not limit Imamate to Husain's family. That is the difference. It is not open to non-Ahl ul Bayt.
ReplyDeleteHowever, using the example of Imam Ali. It is possible for the Imam, like Imam Ali, to let someone lesser, like Abu Bakr, to rule. That is what the Zaydis are talking about. They are not saying that Abu Bakr was an Imam.
DeleteABU BAKR IS NOT A IMAM HE WAS A CALIPHATE IN MOHAMMED (S.A.W) ERA.
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