Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Zaidis Outside the Arabian Peninsula. (Z.O.A.P.?)

Chile. Romania. Jordan. Australia. USA. Mexico. Indonesia. Korea.
What do these countries have in common? People from these countries have contacted this blog to say they are trying to be Zaidis. These are people who came to the conclusion, using their reason, that Zaidism is the way to go.
1. After considering the sunni and shi-ite arguments with an open mind, they may have decided that the truth lies in between.
2. After noticing the poor behaviour of the salafis, and the way the sunnis apologise for the salafi behaviour, they may have wanted to distance themselves from both salafis and sunnis.
3. After considering 12 imamer shi-ite-ism, they may have found the hidden/infallible imam scenario too far fetched.
4. They may be seeking a version of Islam that is progressive, adaptable and logical.
5. They may believe that unity is strength, and that the only way all Muslims will ever be united is to reach a compromise, focussingon what they have in common instead of what makes them different.
Whatever the reason, I’m sure the Zaidis of Sa’ada are not alone in their struggle to maintain some kind of Zaidi identity in the new millenium.

22 comments:

  1. thank u sister Nadia for ur noble ideas ...
    thank u very much ...
    a great article ...

    may allah protect u

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  2. الترجمة العربية للمقالة:

    تشيلي ورومانيا والأردن وأستراليا والولايات المتحدة...
    ترى ما هو العامل المشترك بين تلك البلدان ؟!
    أناس من كل هذه البلاد شاهدوا هذه المدونة وتواصلوا معنا ليخبرونا : أنهم ما زالوا يحاولون أن يصبحوا زيدية !!
    هؤلاء هم الناس الذين توصلوا لمحصلة ونتيجة مهمة : وهي أن الزيدية هي الطريق الصحيح الذي عليهم أن يسلكوه ، ولأسباب عدة منها :

    1 ) بعد أن شاهدوا ودرسوا الخلافات الكبيرة بين السنة والشيعة الإثنى عشرية بعقول منصفة ومتفتحة لمعرفة الحقيقة ، قرروا أن الحق ليس معهما لكنه بينهما !!

    2 ) وبعد تعرفهم على رعونة وجهل السلفية ، والطريقة التي يبرر بها المذهب السني عموماً أفعال واعتقادات هؤلاء السلفية ، فإن هؤلاء الأخوة أرادوا أن يبتعدوا عن هؤلاء السلفية والمذهب السني عموماً قدر الإمكان.

    3 ) وبعد دراستهم للمذهب الشيعي الإثنى عشري ، وجدوا ان سيناريو الإمام المعصوم والمغيب بعيد جداً عن الواقع والمقبول.

    4 ) أصبحوا يبحثون عن إسلام متقدم ، قابل للحياة ، ومنطقي.

    5 ) هم جميعا يعتقدون بأهمية الوحدة الإسلامية ، وأن الطريق الوحيد لوحدة جميع المسلمين لن يكون إلا بالتوصل إلى حل وسط يركز على عوامل الاتفاق بينهم بدلاً من التركيز على تلك العوامل التي تمزقهم وتشتتهم.

    وبغض النظر عن سبب اتباع هؤلاء الأخوة للمذهب الزيدي ، على الزيدية في صعدة أن تعلم انها ليست الوحيدة التي تصارع في سبيل الحفاظ على الهوية والمعتقدات الزيدية في الألفية الجديدة

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  3. as salaamu alaykum Sis Nadia!

    Thank you so much for your contributions in forwarding the school of Ahl al-Bayt!

    I normally post and answer questions about Zaydism on the English forum on www.al-majalis.org website.

    I am also in the process of translating Zaydi works into English!

    I would love to work with you on your blog!

    Imam Rassi Society

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  4. In Mexico only I'm Zaydi as far as I know (coming soon, my wife, insha Allah)... better than nothinhg isn't it?. As salamu 'alaikum! Habellyno.

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  5. the problem you have here is basing decisions of the actions and character of people. you cant judge Islam based upon how people are and what they claim to follow. salafi, sunni, shia, even zaidi are just names rather you need to go back to the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet (saas) and if peoples actions and words don't conform to that then they are at fault and thats not how you go about selecting the truth.

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  6. Salaam Imam Rassi Society,
    Thanks for your supportive message. Please keep us informed about the progress of your translations, will they be available on the net? Let me know if you have written anything about Zaidism in English, including a perspective/opinion about any of the topics already opened for discussion... the more contributions we get, the better informed the readers will be... w/salaam

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  7. Salaam Abdullah,
    Thanks for your comment...You are right, that Zaidi etc is just a name, but if you read the article "Is Zaidism a sect?" I think you may appreciate that it is a word we are using to represent a way of thinking that has the potential to unite all Muslims whether they be sunni or shi-ite. The schisms need to be sorted out.. Zaidism offers sunnis and 12ers an opportunity to reconcile without having to give up too much ground... we even have a mexican convert... free enchiladas thrown in.....

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  8. but why zaidism? when we already have a name given to us by Allah in the Quran

    Yusuf - 12:101
    "My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Walî (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous." (Yusuf 12:101)

    no need for sunni shia salafi or what not

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  9. Al-Hajj - 22:78
    And strive hard in Allâh's Cause as you ought to strive (with sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior). He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islâmic Monotheism to mankind by inviting them to His religion, Islâm), and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father Ibrahim (Abraham) (Islâmic Monotheism). It is He (Allâh) Who has named you muslims both before and in this (the Qur'ân), that the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) may be a witness over you and you be witnesses over mankind! So perform As Salât (Iqamat-as-Salât), give Zakât and hold fast to Allâh [i.e. have confidence in Allâh, and depend upon Him in all your affairs] He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.), what an Excellent Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.) and what an Excellent Helper! (Al-Hajj 22:78)

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  10. Salaam...it would be great if Muslims hadn't started giving each other names, you need to study Islamic History to find out how that happened... I suggest you read Wilferd Madeling's book "The Succession of Muhammad" to find out about the circumstances of the Muslims splitting into groups, the reality is, it happened. Sunnis labelled those who wanted Muhammad's descendants to lead them as Shi-ites, they were really just Muslims who thought pple should respect the family of the prophet... I am trying to bring muslims back together, not divide them....

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  11. Mashallah that is a good aim to have as Unity is important.

    “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur’aan), and be not divided among yourselves

    [Aal ‘Imraan 3:103]

    Division, differences and disputes are the cause of the ummah’s defeat, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “And obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allaah is with those who are As-Saabiroon (the patient)”

    [al-Anfaal 8:46]

    so unity can only be achieved by holding onto the Quran and sunnah and putting them inbetween our disputes.

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  12. ...actually the book is "The Succession to Muhammad" by Wilferd Madelung... a non Muslim historian who presents both sides of the schism in full detail, whereas Sunni and Shi-ite versions are biased one way or the other...

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  13. non-muslims themselves often have their own biases. and it is clear from wilfred introduction where his bias lies.

    have you read Al-awaasim minal Qawaasim (defence against Disaster.

    by Qadi Abu Bakr Ibn Al-'Arabi

    An english translation of al-'Awaasim min al-Qawaasim.

    The classical position on the Fitnat al-Kubra, or First Civil War, of the Muslims, and a standard textbook for the study of Islam. The work presents the disasters that occurred within the first Muslim community(following the death of the Prophet (saas)), and the defences that were successfully applied. From this can be understood all subsequent conflicts within the Muslim polity, and their remedies. Shaykh Abdalqadir’s edition of the English intersperses each section of Ibn al-‘Arabi’s text with clear, detailed commentaries.

    http://talk.islamicnetwork.com/attachment.php?s=57adfd5e8ee9b5266a71ad03db8c90b0&attachmentid=403&d=1118569427

    a must read and inshallah will clarify many historical events of the time

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  14. salam alikum sister Zaida and brother Abdullah ...

    brother Abdullah :
    about what u r saying about the names ... i think its right and as they said : (( There is nothing wrong with the terminology))=(( لا مشاحة في الاصطلاح)) u can call zaidi or other doctrines by what ever name u would like ... the core is the important .. what u said about quraan is the same idea that zaidism make it as main principle for itself ... all the muslims doctrines say they do that but no one did that in reality but zaidism ... zaidism believes that if we followed only quraan all that Schisms would not be happened ...

    and abu Baker al arabie would have a position Unenviable in front of allah bcz of ( awasim min alqawasem ) ... bcz what he wrote about of Imam Ali (as) which no one love him but believers and no one hate him but Hypocrite ... and abu baker alarabie was a big hater for Imam Ali (as) ... dont wanna talk much about him right now ..!!

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  15. the Prophet came with the Quran and Sunnah.

    [O you, those who have faith, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you dispute over a thing, then return it to Allah and the Messenger, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more beautiful of interpretation.]
    Surah an-Nisa ayah 59.

    only by going back to the Quran and Sunnah will the Ummah find unity and success.

    can you bring some quotes where al arabi showed his hatred for Ali(rAnh)

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  16. well ... we r not different about the importance of sunaah ,we believe that who reject sunnah is not muslims but the main idea that how we know this is a real sunnah from the Prophet(as)or a lied sunnah ... even Bukhari said as in (syar aalam al nobala book) that he choosed his book from more then 700,ooo report most of them r lied ...and bukharia and muslim r not Infallible they may judge on some reports as correct while they r not ...even albani(the salafi) had reject 12 reports in bukhari book ... so we have to put a rule as allah said to know correct from not correct which is to compare between quraan and reports ...if its matching what in the quraan then its ok otherwise its lied ...e.g: quraan said allah create the universe in 6 days while theres (the soil report) narrated by abu-huraira in (moslim)declaring that allah create the universe in 7 days ..!! so who should we believe ???!!!

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  17. when following the Ahadeeth we need to understand that the great collectors of them went to enormous lengths and traveled far and wide in order to gather them for the Ummah. only taking hadeeth from the strongest verifiable sources. Imaam Bukhaari himself would make ghusl and then prey 2 rakat before writing each hadeeth. during a time when there were many liars from among the shia and even 'sunni' groups inorder to further promote their group or Mathhab and denigrate the opposition.

    Imaam Bukhaari wrote a number of books of ahadeeth such as “Al-Adab Al-Mufrad” not just his famous Saheeh, which contains more than 7500 ahadeeth and took him 16 years to complete.

    the hadeeth that were 'questioned' numbered less then 20 from the over all 7500+. and as you said no one is infallible, so its not unexpected and there is no book by man that is without error. which is why we have famous scholar of hadeeth like ad-Daraqutni and Shaykh al-albani who doing a service for the Ummah to scrutinize these master pieces for the Ummah.

    some of the categories of authenticity include Saheeh(highest level)Hasan(authentic but with a weakness or question mark that is supported by other factors)Da'eef or "weak"(presence of an error in the text or chain of narration that doesn't have supporting factors)

    Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar spoke at lengths regarding these peer reviews stating these were only in regard to whether they were Saheeh or hasan. but we also remember that while Imaam fallible so to is everyone else

    Imam al-Nawawi said in his introduction to Sharh Muslim (1/14): “The scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) are agreed that the most sound of books after the Qur’aan are the two Saheehs of al-Bukhaari and Muslim, which were accepted by the ummah. The book of al-Bukhaari is the more sound and the more beneficial of the two.”

    Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:

    "There is no book beneath the canopy of heaven that is more sound than al-Bukhaari and Muslim, after the Qur’aan."

    Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (18/74).

    more reading about correcting misinformation regarding Imaam Bukhaari

    http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Hadith/bukhari.html


    with regard to the Hadeeth of Abu Hurayra which is found in Saheeh Muslim, i haven't read much on the topic but i did find a link that inshallah may help clarify any misunderstanding.

    http://islamic-replies.ucoz.com/Universe_Created_In_7_Days_Hadiths.html

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  18. i have two comments on ur post brother right now :

    (1) about that Bukhari was doing ghusul and 2 rakat before writing hadeeth ... this would be a catastrophe if it is correct (while i think it is not correct because they used to raise their men by putting lies in their Biographys) because Bukhari did not have Scientific Secretariat in his hadeeths that he put in his book for many reasons so Allah was drawn him, some of the reasons :

    (a) he has trusted bad and hypocrite people and passed there reports in his book while he reject many honest people e.g: he take reports from (Marwan ibn alHakam) while he was a criminal, prophet cursed his father and his descents (correct report: Majma'a alZawa'ed(5/241) ) and he is the killer of Talha in the Camel battle and he was very corrupted governor as every islamic student know ...

    (b) trusted (Emaraan ibn Hitan) who Praise the killer of Imam Ali (as) while prophet told Imam Alia: no one love u but believers and no one hate u but hypocrite (muslim book 78).

    (c) reject many prophet descents reports for nothing but their Jihad against the corrupted leaders and other Fabricated rules they used, like: Ja'afar al Sadiq, Yahia ibn Zaid (As), Mohammed ibn Abdullah ( the Beautiful self), Owais Alqani, alHareth Al A'awar,Ibn Abi Alsalt, etc

    (d) when a good report talking about the Prince of Believers he was trying to blinding it so u cant not know the report mean and vice versa.

    and alot of things more can not write it all now ...so we can see from that he was not honest in his report choosing and his Injured and modified for the people he talked about.

    another hit: Abu Hatem ( auther of the al Jarh wa al Ta'adeel book)and Abu Zur'ah left Bukhari because they consider because ha was saying: my Phonetic in Quraan is created( like Mu'atazela saying )

    (2) the rest of speeches u mentioned brother of Nawawi, Ibn Taimia alHarani and the Paradoxical al-albani all of them are not Infallible and all what they say like wind have no weight in the scintific balances because they were modified and injured the narrators by there mood, depending on the narrators beliefs not honesty.

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  19. Salam!

    Great blog, may Allah grant you tawfiq sister. I also created previously on, though you have been much more active mashaAllah and I look forward to more posts.

    Fee aman Allah
    Ahl Bayt Lover in the USA
    http://zaydiya.blogspot.com/

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  20. MashaAllah!

    We have people in Mexico and Korea?! ((:

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  21. welcome sister Zaidiya
    u have a good blog too
    and very nice FB page

    mashallah

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  22. I love the Zaidiya blog and its sister facebook page (zaydi math'hab facebook). Great work Zaidiya! Feel free to transfer any articles from this blog onto the Facebook page so more people can read them! Also I welcome any suggestions you have about how to further promote Zaidism...

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