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The Partisans of `Ali

The Partisans of `Ali. HIST 1007 10/4/13. Sunni Jurisprudence. Qur’an Hadith Ijtima - Consensus Qiyas – Analogy Tradition and precedent Ra’y – Legal opinion. Growing Importance of Qur’an and Hadith. Hanafis : law based on precedent and legal judgments

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The Partisans of `Ali

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  1. The Partisans of `Ali HIST 1007 10/4/13

  2. Sunni Jurisprudence • Qur’an • Hadith • Ijtima- Consensus • Qiyas– Analogy • Tradition and precedent • Ra’y – Legal opinion

  3. Growing Importance of Qur’an and Hadith • Hanafis: law based on precedent and legal judgments • Malikis: traditions of the sahaba and people of Medina along with Qur’an and hadith • Shafi`i: consensus and analogy in interpreting the Qur’an and hadith • Hanbalis: Qur’an and hadith only, rejection of consensus and analogy

  4. Hadith Collections • SahihBukhari, Muhammad al-Bukhari (d. 870) • Sahih Muslim, Muslim b. al-Hajjaj (d. 875) • Sunan al-Sughra, al-Nasa`I (d. 915) • Sunan Abu Dawood, Abu Dawood (d. 888) • Jami al-Tirmidhi, al-Tirmidhi (d. 892) • SunanibnMajah, IbnMajah (d. 887) • All six collections of sound hadith were collected by Persians. Tomb of al-Bukhari in Samarqand, Uzbekistan

  5. What Makes Shi’ism Different? • Piety attached to loyalty to `Ali and his descendants • Imam: True leader of the Muslim community • Both political and religious • Who are the Imams and what makes them special?

  6. The Nature of the Imams • Nass – designation of a successor by an Imam • Investiture of `Ali at Ghadir Khumm • Transmits secret knowledge • Exclusive authority to interpret the Qur’an and hadith • Exclusive authority to (re)define the legal system of Islam

  7. The Imams • `Ali b. Abu Talib (r. 632-661): also fourth Rashidun Caliph, assassinated by Kharijites • Hasan b. `Ali (r. 661-670): politically quietest, allowed Mu`awiya to rule while he retired to Medina • Husayn b. `Ali (r. 670-680): led a revolt against Yazid, killed at the Battle of Karbala • `Ali b. HusaynZayn al-Abidin (r. 680-712): may have been assassinated by the Umayyads

  8. Zaydi (Fiver) Shi’ites • 713: Fourth Shi’ite Imam `Ali b. HusaynZayn al-Abidin dies • Imami (Twelver) Shi’ites acknowledge Muhammad b. `Ali al-Baqir his successor • Others support Zayd b. `Ali, another son • Zayd promotes action against Umayyads • True Imam proves himself by active struggle

  9. Imami (Twelver) Shi’ism • Mainstream modern Shi’ism • Develop their own legal traditions emphasizing Qur’an, hadith, and the opinions of the Imams • Denies other sources of law • Example of the sahaba, especially Abu Bakr, `Umar, and `Uthman • Develops their own collections of sound hadith

  10. The Imams • Muhammad b. `Ali al-Baqir (r. 712-733): Established foundations of Shi’ite jurisprudence • Ja`far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (r. 733-765): Developed Ja`fari Law School, polymath scholar known for work in astronomy, theology, philosophy, medicine, and physics

  11. Shi’ite Messianism • Ascription of supernatural powers begins during Ja`far al-Sadiq’s Imamate • Qa’im – redemeer • Mahdi – messiah, chosen by God to restore Islam and establish justice • Ma`sun – sinless and infallible guide to religious truth • Indwelling spirit of God • How do a succession of child Imams support this?

  12. But How Far Does This Go? God Imams? Everything else

  13. Ghulat – Extremism • Extremism in belief, not necessarily in action. • Gnosticism – humans embody a divine spark • Return to the divine realm • Incarnation • Transmigration of souls • Continuous living prophethood

  14. Isma`ili (Sevener) Shi’ism • 765: Promotes Isma`il b. Ja`far over Musa al-Kazim as seventh Imam • Extreme messianism • Zahirand batin: literal and esoteric truths • Prophet and wasi: executer and interpreter of revelation • Cycles of seven prophets and seven wasi • Muhammad b. Isma`il to be the seventh prophet, will reveal truth and establish justice

  15. Isma`ili (Sevener) Shi’ism • Natiq – Prophet • Imam • Hujja – Proof, represent the Imams in their absence • Da`is – Missionaries • Each level can access more esoteric knowledge

  16. Fatimid Caliphate (909-1171) • Isma`ili Shi’ite counter caliphate • Founded in North Africa by missionaries among Berbers • Eventually spread to Egypt and Syria • Establish rule of Isma`ili Imams • 969: Founded Cairo as capital

  17. Back to the Imami (Twelver) Imams • Musa b. Ja`far al-Kazim (r. 765-799): Succession struggle with half-brother Isma`il • `Ali b. Musa al-Rida (r. 799-818): Recognized by both Zaydi and Imami Shi’ites, briefly declared heir to `Abbasid Caliph al-Ma’mun • Muhammad b. `Ali al-Taqi (r. 818-835): Becomes Imam at 8 years old • `Ali b. Muhammad al-Hadi (r. 835-868): May have been as young as 5 years old when declared Imam

  18. Why Twelvers? • Hasan b. `Ali al-Askari (r. 868-874): 11th Imam • Does he have an heir when he dies? • Muhammad b. Hasan al-Mahdi: Can an infant or, possibly, fetus be Imam? • Ghaybah: Occultation • Lesser Occultation (873-941): al-Mahdi is alive, in hiding, in contact with intermediaries • Greater Occultation (941-present): al-Mahdi did not die, but is waiting in the spiritual realm

  19. Shi’ism without the Imam • Baghdad and Qom • Messianism and mysticism vs. scholars • Lesser Occultation: Four deputies • Greater Occultation: Hujjat al-Islam, scholars as “proof” of Islam • Legal system based on Qur’an, modified hadith, and hadith of the Imams

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