Q & A about Ibadism

The following is an easy summary through Q & A approach about Ibadis in general.

1. Why are the lbadis called by this name?

The others called them by this name, which is a political label, related to the follower Abdullah bin lbad Al-Tamimi who was one of the political leaders of the Doctrine. He was best known for his active movement in the criticism to the behaviour of the Umayyad rulers as they were keeping their distance for the Sunnah and the Caliphs' approach. He was also known for his letters to the Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan, in which he had shown him the Right and had defended the group he belonged to.

2. What did the lbadis call themselves before they were called so?

They were using the phrase "the Muslim Community" or "the People of the Call (Al-Da’wa)" or "the People of Integrity". The term "lbadism" first appeared towards the end of the 3rd century of the Hegira, and it spread out. The followers of the Doctrine then were pleased with this appellation.

3. Where do the lbadis take their religious commandments from?

They take them from the Book of Allah, the Holy Quran, and the Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and the nation's consensus. These are the original sources of legislation, and from them they seek evidence in their doctrine. All the issues related to religious sciences including belief and practice are based on the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.

4. To what extent do the Ibadis follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH)?

The Ibadis are the best people to follow the Prophet (PBUH) and to adhere to his Sunnah, and this has always been confirmed by others in different eras, and acknowledged by those who have read their books and biographies.

5. Which book is accredited by the Ibadis regarding the Hadeeth of the Prophet (PBUH)?

The Ibadis have Musnad Al-lmam Al-Rabee bin Habeeb Al-Faraheedi' as a reference for Hadeeth. It is considered the most accurate Hadeeth book because all the hadeeth are based on a triple reference, and all the tellers are trustworthy. Most of the Hadeeth were narrated by Abu Ubaida Muslim bin Abi Kareema from Jabir bin Zeid Al-Azdi from the Prophet's companions (May Allah be pleased with them). The lbadis also consult other Hadeeth books and take from them what was approved from the Prophet (PBUH)

6. Which scientific approach is adopted by the Ibadis?

The lbadis are known for the spaciousness of their views and the generousness of their attitude as they draw evidence from the Holy Quran and the accredited Hadeeth from all Sunnah books. Besides they mention the dissentients' statements openly and they accept whatever statement that has the most evidence regardless the author

7. Why do others accuse the lbadis for not following the Sunnah?

The accusation that the lbadis do not follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) is the result of ignorance of the lbadi jurisprudence, and is also the result of historical and political events that occurred in the past and that left their mark in the books of the dissentients.

8. Why is the Ibadi Doctrine not well-known among the other existing doctrines?

The Ibadi Doctrine initially spread in several Islamic areas, as we shall see later, but then shrank because the lbadis, led by Abdullah bin lbad, represented one of the political opposition fronts to the Umayyad state and then to the Abbasid state, and also because the Umayyad and Abbasid princes fought the doctrine and its followers, and prevented people from knowing its reality which is originally based on the authenticity of lslam and they found ways to keep people away from the lbadis by calling them the outsiders or 'al-khawarij'.

9. Where did the lbadi Doctrine spread and why has it shrunk?

In addition to Oman, the followers of the Doctrine has existed in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and in several African countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Mali but the Doctrine had already existed in lraq, Khorasan, the Sind and many other areas before. Then it had shrunk or disappeared in many regions due to the policies of some states against the Doctrine itself and its followers who were sometimes accused of being infidels. They were even put to death and their libraries were burned or destroyed. Even though the lbadi states did not pursue this approach, and the lbadis were known for their tolerance and respect to others whom they considered as brethrens and never got them to follow the Doctrine by force.

10. Why do many people ignore the virtues of the lbadis, their history and their books?

This was the result of intolerance, injustice, envy and false propaganda. The lbadi libraries were burned, the Doctrine was prosecuted and the followers were killed or forced to abolish their doctrine.

11. Why did others spread a lot of lies and fabrications about the Ibadis and their doctrine?

Lies and fabrications spread out because of the injustice of governors and rulers who ruled the Islamic nation with their unfair polices in the early times, and fought all those who had stood against their oppression, and chased al those who had tried to show the right path to people or had raised their voice calling for the good values and denouncing immorality. Those rulers also developed hatred against the people who believed it was permissible for the nation to object unjust rulers and their unfair deeds, and they described them as heretics and deteriorated their image in their books at the time, and many had believed those slurs without much search for the truth, to an extent that some of the rulers' scholars admitted that the lbadis should be sentenced to death.

12. What kind of attitude do the lbadis have towards others?

The lbadis are known for their fairness in their thoughts, and they are famous for their accuracy when they draw conclusions in all their matters, even when they deal with other groups that are different from theirs. They do not act like the others who reject whoever does not share their beliefs or they label the rest of Moslems as infidels and they consider praying behind them as void. They also forbid marriage ties with them and even admit their annihilation, which the lbadis would not do.

13. How do the lbadis treat their dissentients under their state?

History has witnessed the social justice of the lbadi State as the followers of other doctrines were all well-treated and their rights and obligations were equal to those of the lbadis themselves, and any other practice is considered as a violation of justice and, therefore, is not approved by the lbadi principles.

Reference:

Q & A about Ibadism and Prayer; by Hamad bin Suleiman Al-Miwali, translated by Ahsan Ibrahim Oudjana