Muslims, Scholars, Soldiers: The Origin and Elaboration of the Ibadi Imamate Traditions (AAR Academy Series)

A study of the origin and development of the Ibadi Imamate ideal into its medieval Arabian and North African articulations, this study traces the distinctive features of the Ibadi imama to precedents among the early Kharijites, Rashidun Caliphs and pre-Islamic Arabs. Using the four "states of religion (masalik al-din) as an organizing principle for its chapters, the book examines the four associated Imam-types that are appropriate to such states - the Imam al-Zuhur (Imam of Manifestation), Imam al-Difa'a (Imam of Defense), Imam al-Shari (the "Seller Imam who triumphed over his enemies or "sold himself to God in the attempt) and Imam al-Kitman (Imam of Secrecy) - and locates each Imam-type within a trajectory of Ibadi development. Some distinctive features of the Ibadi Imamate tradition, such as the shari Imam who selflessly fought for the establishment of the Ibadi polity, are shown to be rooted in the early Kharijite martyrdom narratives that were appropriated by the Ibadiyya and later transformed into systematic doctrines. Still others, such as the "weak Imam who accepted provisional authority under the control of the 'ulama' hearken back to pre-Islamic patterns of limited authority that subsequently found their way into early Islamic political norms. Working from a perspective that challenges the exceptional interpretation of Kharijite and Ibadite doctrine and practice, this study seeks to root much of Ibadi political theory in the same early traditions of Islamic political practice that later provided legitimacy to Sunni Muslim political theorists. The result is a historically grounded and complex presentation of the development of political doctrine among the sole remaining relative of the early Kharijites. -- Publisher description A study of the origin and development of the Ibāḍī imāmate ideal into its medieval Arabian and North African articulations, this book traces the distinctive features of the Ibāḍī imāmate to precedents among the early Khārijites, rāshidūn Caliphs, and pre-Islamic Arabs. Using the four "stages of religion" (masālik al-dīn) as an organizing principle, the book examines the four associated Imam-types that are considered appropriate to such stages--the imām al-ẓuhūr (Imām of manifestation), imām al-difā' (Imām of defense), imām al-shārī (the "seller" Imām who triumphed over his enemies or "sold" hiself to God in the attempt), and imām al-kitmān (Imām of secrecy)--and locates each Imām-type within a trajectory of Ibāḍī development. Some distinctive features of the Ibāḍī imāmate tradition, such as the shārī Imām who selflessly fought for the establishment of the Ibāḍī polity, are shown to be rooted in early Khārijite martyrdom narratives that were appropriated by the Ibāḍiyya and later transformed into systematic doctrines.Others, such as the "weak" Imām who accepted provisional authority under the control of the ʻulamāʼ hearken back to pre-Islamic patterns of limited authority that subsequently found their way into early Islamic political norms. Working from a perspective that challenges the interpretation of Khārijite and Ibāḍite doctrine and practice as "exceptional," this study seeks to root Ibāḍī political theory in the same early traditions of Islamic political practice that later provided legitimacy to Sunni Muslim political theorists. The result is a historically grounded and complex presentation of the development of political doctrine among the sole remaining relative of the early quietist Khārijites--Book Jacket Contents......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 12 Note on Transliteration, Dates, and Qur`ānic Citations......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 1. Imām al-Zuhūr......Page 34 2. Imām al-Kitmān......Page 64 3. The The Shārī Imām......Page 94 4. Imām al-Difā‘, Imām al-D!a‘īf, and Community......Page 126 Conclusion......Page 154 Notes......Page 162 Bibliography......Page 194 A......Page 208 G......Page 211 I......Page 212 K......Page 213 N......Page 214 S......Page 215 Y......Page 217 Z......Page 218 A Study Of The Origin And Development Of The Ibadi Imamate Ideal Into Its Medieval Arabian And North African Articulations, This Study Traces The Distinctive Features Of The Ibadi Imama To Precedents Among The Early Kharijites, Rashidun Caliphs And Pre-islamic Arabs. Introduction -- Imām Al-zuhūr -- Imām Al-kitmān -- The Shārī Imām -- Imām Al-difā', Imām Al-da'īf, And Community -- Conclusion. Adam R. Gaiser. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book is a study of the origin and development of the Ibadi Imamate ideal into its medieval Arabian and North African articulations, this study traces the distinctive features of the Ibadi imama to precedents among the early Kharijites, Rashidun Caliphs and pre-Islamic Arabs.