MENA 160A1 1st Edition Lecture 8 Outline of Current Lecture I. Origins of Shi’ismII. Zaydis: Zayd b. ‘Ali b. Husayn b. ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (d. 740)III. Isma‘ilis IV. Imami Shi‘ismCurrent LectureI. Define Shi’ismII. Historical and theological discussions of the major Shi’a group and their characteristicsIII. Shi’ism todayOrigins of Shi’ism- ‘Ali and descendants become the focus of hope for the “Pious Opposition’ to Umayyads- Belief that Muhammad named ‘Ali as his successor (Ghadir Khummum)- Shiat-‘(party of ‘Ali)- -a name given to the people who sided with the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, ‘Ali- Mu’awiya was a rival of ‘Ali and founder of Umayyad - ‘Ali’s martyrdom – 661 (Kharijites)- al-Husayn’s martyrdom – 680 (Umayyads)- Multiple rebellions against Umayyads (esp. in Iraq), e.g. Mukhtar, Zayd b. ‘Ali- All Shi‘a: Approximately 100 million.- Zaydis: Yemen (7%).- Isma‘ilis: South Asia, East Africa (5%).- Imami Shi‘a = Twelvers (88%).- Iran, Southern Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait- - Mu‘awiya: rival of Ali, and founder of the Umayyad dynasty in Damascus, Syria.- Hasan abdicated the Imamate.- The Shia’s believed that all of their Imams except the Hidden Imam came to a brutal end emphasizing the persecution of Shi‘a. - Martyrdom of Imam Husayn.-Karbala- His way to Kufa- Husayn and his 72 followers fought a large army of Yazid.- Muharam 10, 680.- Martyr: shahid -Muslim who died for a legitimate struggle.-Husayn died for all Shi’a-The story of Karbala: Yazid Ibn Mu‘awiya and Husayn - Passion play and Shi‘a re-enactment of Husayn’s death.- Tekiyeh: Theater- Ta‘ziya: mourning- ‘Ashura: events of Karbala took place on thetenth day of the month of Muharram in the Islamic calendar- Occultation (ghayba)- Return (raj‘a)- Taqiyya: pretense of adherence to another religion as a measure of self defense- Political quietism?- The Greater Occultation (941) and the awaited return of the Mahdi, Twelvers or Imami Shi‘a. Imams are forced into concealment.- Imam is immune from error.- Guidance of the community is done by mujtahids and the sources of imitation.Zaydis: Zayd b. ‘Ali b. Husayn b. ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (d. 740): - Concept of Imam1. Scholar-warrior2. Descendent of Hasan or Husayn3. Multiple Imams can exist simultaneously4. Not necessary for there to be an Imam at all timesIsma‘ilis  Isma‘il b. Ja‘far al-Sadiq & his son Muhammad Isma‘ilis believe that JA‘far designated his elder son Isma‘IL as his successor.  Definition of Imam-Designation (nass) from Isma‘il b. Ja‘far-Perfect knowledge/ infallible Missionaries and initiation Fatimid Caliphate: Imam as political ruler-‘Ubayda Allah’s new teaching around 900-Begins Fatimid caliphate in Ifriqiyya (Tunisia) in 909-Conquest of Egypt and foundation of Cairo (969)- Ja’far al-Sadiq named his son, Isma’il as successor (760)- Isma’il died before Ja’far- A crisis, who would be Imam?- Some believed that Isma’ilis son, Muhammad, became Imam- Others believed that Isma’ilis brother, - Musa al-Kazim, was the true Imam- This marks the split between the two major Shi’a groups:- Isma’ili (‘Sevener’ – after Isma’il as the seventh Imam)- Imami (‘Twelver’ – after the last, twelfth Imam – later)Imami Shi‘ism- Concept of the Imam1. Designation (nass)2. Special knowledge3. Only Twelve Imams4. Twelfth Imam = Mahdi in Occultation5. Quietist/ apolitical (three exceptions)6. Necessary for Muslims to recognize him- Imami Shi’ites persecuted by ‘Abbasids- Last living Imam – the 11th Imam- Hasan al-‘Askari (buried in Samarra in Iraq)- ‘Uthman al-‘Amri declared Hasan had a son, - Muhammad al-Muntazar (‘the awaited one’)- The concept of ‘Occultation’ - The ‘Lesser Occultation’ (874-941)- The ‘Greater Occulation’ - Radical new concept in Imami Shi’ism- 12th Imam was viewed as the Mahdi- -The Mahdi would come back at the end of the world and est. justice & righteousness to the umma - Imami Shi’a now looked to Mullahs for guidance -Zaydis- Zayd – al-Husayn’s grandson- Zaydism a much smaller group than other Shi’ite sects- Led a failed rebellion in 740- Missionary activity in Iran and Yemen- Some independent Zaydi enclaves- Criteria for the Caliph:1. A descendant of ‘Ali2. Pious3. Willing to fight the Umayyads 4. Leader not ascribed divinity, prophet-hood, nor ‘special knowledge’ (this last adopted by other Shi’ites) Emergence of Ghulats- Ghulats – ‘extremists’, ‘exaggerators’ - Early pro-‘Alids who ascribed divine powers to ‘Ali and his descendants- (For ex.) ‘Ali was divine, or also a prophet, a ‘holy soul’ that transmigrated from descendants to descendants.- Something akin to these beliefs will become incorporated into mainstream Shi’ism- ‘Ali and his descendants will have ‘special knowledge’ on the Qur’an and its interpretationThe Concept of the Imam- In Arabic, imam means “one in front” – who leads prayer- imam – In Sunni Islam, a prayer leader- Imam – Leader of the Shi’a community- Most important figures in development of Shi’a theology:- Muhammad al-Baqir (‘Ali’s great-grandson)- Ja’far al-Sadiq 702-765 (al-Baqir’s son)- Widely-respected legal scholar- With them, growth of a separate religious identity as Shi’ism. Followers gave religious allegiance to them.- With them, the concept of the Imam grows, as opposed to the Caliph- Followers viewed Imams as infallible, sinless and imbued with ‘special knowledge’ passed from Muhammad to ‘Ali and onto his descendants. The true leader of the ummaNew Concepts- With al-Baqir and al-Sadiq:- Idea that the Imam was designated (Nass) by prior Imam - The concept ‘special knowledge’, and it will pass from one Imam to the other- The practice of Taqiyya, concealing one’s Shi’a loyalty and practice in order to avoid conflict with authoritiesIsma’ili Shi’a- When Isma’il’s son, Muhammad, died he was believed not to die. - ‘Occultation’ also developed in Isma’ili thought- Imams also viewed as infallible, sinless- Zahir – outer meaning of the Qur’an- Batin – inner, esoteric message- When the Mahdi returns, his teaching will replace that of Muhammad- ca.