Literary CornerThe Zeidi Sect (III) [Archives:2007/1070/Culture]

Abu Al-Kalima Al-Tayybah
Subject Book: The Zeidi Sect/Zeidis

Author: Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud Subhi

Part I of Volume II in the Science of Theology1 Series

Publisher: Arab Writer's Press

Year Published: 1991 AD

No. of Pages: 768

From the previous section in this series, it is easy to say that Shi'ism began with the rise of the dispute over the succession of the leadership of the Moslem Nation after the death of the Prophet Mohammed (PBAUH). In fact the word schism may have its roots in the Arabic word Shi'ism, since the Shiites were opponents of those who accepted the rule of the Umayyads and thus “broke” away from the fold.

It is clear that the character of Ali and later his descendants, especially those of his sons Hassan and Hussein, instigated a mass popular support, especially among the overwhelming masses of the discontent, who suffered under the extremely harsh rule of the Omayyad dynasty of Caliphs, who ruled for about 90 years after the completion of the rule of the Orthodox Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Omer, Uthman and Ali). The rule of the Abbasids, who followed the Umayyads, with the pretext of following the path of Ali and avenging the persecution of the Umayyads on the House of Ali, in particular and the Shiites or followers of the House of Ali in general, was no relief for the Shiites, although the latter played an important role in helping the Abbasids rise to overthrow the Umayyads.

In short, author views the rise of the difference between the Shiites and the Sunnis and hence the rise of the many different religious sects in the Moslem religion as emanating from the lack of a political regime that would allow for a peaceful transformation of authority in the new regime that was created by the advent of Islam as a living political force in the world. The author contends that to this day, this absence of a sustainable political regime that guaranteed a peaceful transfer of political power is the incurable ill of the Moslem World. This was left to the Moslems to figure out for themselves as the religious ordinances in the Quran and in the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed (PBAUH), did not delve into the matter, but offered sufficient guidance as to how political power should be exercised.

After the death of Ali Bin Abu Talib and the ability of the Umayyads to consolidate power in their hands, the House of Ali continued to produce strong resistance to the tyrannical rule of the new dynasty that took over the caliphate, the capital was shifted from Medina to Damascus2. Soon after the death of Ma'awyiah in Abu Sufyan or Sufian, the first of the Umayyad Caliphs, his son Yazid took over and his rule was even more repressive than that of Ma'awiyah. Thus, the masses again resorted to the House of Ali to liberate them from this relentless tyranny began by the Umayyads. Ma'awyiah had already had Ali's elder son, Hassan, poisoned by one of the latter's wives. Thus, the protestors to the rule of the Umayyad's second Caliph, Yazid turned to the second and only remaining son of Ali, through the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed (PBAUH), Fatima, Hussein to lead them in rebellion against Yazid. They sent a delegation to the latter to invite Hussein to come to Kufa to lead them in rebellion and they pledged their allegiance to fight with him until the last blood of blood if necessary. At first, Hussein was reluctant to positively respond to this call for rebellion, knowing how many times, his father Ali was betrayed by the very masses that formerly had sworn to support him in his fight against the Umayyads. But this time, these masses insisted that Hussein lead them to rebellion and they promised full support. The scholarly and brave Hussein decided that it was his duty, first as a Moslem and then as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed (PBAUH), to rise against oppression and to take the banner of rebellion against the Umayyad tyrants. He was sure that with the overwhelming support that he was promised, defeating the Umayyads would be easy game. As Hussein advanced towards Kufa, the Umayyad Governor in Iraq had already set the ground for facing Hussein and preventing any of his supporters from reaching Hussein even before he got to Kufa. The entourage of Hussein was confronted by considerable forced of Umayyad troops against a ragged force of some 300 followers. It is said that the latter were met by a force of over 10,000 well equipped troops, who had arranged to have the entourage besieged and cut off from water and other relief. Eventually, the entourage was slaughtered and the House of Ali began to be inflicted a series of massacres that followed the slaughter of Hussein and his entourage, even after the passing of the Umayyads and the advent of the rule of the Abbasids.

1 The Science of “Philosophical or Jurisdictional Argument” was the subject matter that occupied many of the religious scholars in the early period of Moslem History before actual religious sects existed; most sectarian religious affiliation is rooted in these dissertations.

2 Ali, the Fourth Caliphate had provisionally shifted the capital to Kufa Iraq, where he had a large following and to get him closer to Damascus, where his opponent Ma'awiyah, the Umayyad aspirant to the Caliphate was hanging on to his claim for the Caliphate.
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