Ibadism

Ibadism (Arabic: الإباضية, al-Ibāḍiyya) is a branch of Islam distinct from Sunni and Shia Islam. It is the only branch from the Khawarij movement to survive to the present day, tracing its origins to political disputes in the first century of the Islamic calendar (7th century CE). Ibadis generally reject the label Khawarij and prefer to call themselves 'ahl al-dacwa' (people of the call) or 'al-Muslimun' (Muslims).

Today Ibadism is the dominant religion of much of the population of Oman. Smaller Ibadi communities exist in the Mzab valley in Algeria, the island of Djerba in Tunisia, the Nafusa mountains in Libya, and Zanzibar (Tanzania), which has historical ties to Oman.

Historical origins

The branch takes its name from Abdullah ibn Ibad, a scholar from Basra in the early Islamic period. However, most Ibadi scholars regard Jabir ibn Zayd, a Basran scholar who systematized earlier teachings, as foundational. Basra was a major center of Islamic learning; from there groups of scholars known as 'hamalat al-cilm' (bearers of knowledge) were sent to Oman, Yemen, and North Africa.

Doctrine and jurisprudence

Ibadi theology emphasizes strict monotheism and rejects the notion that God's attributes have physical form or location. Ibadi doctrine also rejects the Sunni view that God can be seen in the afterlife. Ibadi jurisprudence is based on the Quran, the Sunnah, and the reasoned judgment of Ibadi scholars, with its own legal school distinct from the four Sunni schools of law. Many ritual practices—prayer, fasting, pilgrimage—are similar to those of other Islamic branches, with only minor differences.

Imamate and political thought

Ibadi political thought is not bound to lineage or genealogy: the imam (religious leader) is chosen on the basis of learning, justice, and ability, and does not have hereditary rights. An imam who fails in justice can be removed. Historically, there were Ibadi states, including the Rustamid imamate in Tahert (North Africa) and a succession of imams in Oman that lasted into later centuries. Ibadis also developed the concept of 'masaalik al-diin' (paths of religion)—legitimate modes of communal life when political authority is absent, including 'kitman' (concealment of belief) and 'zuhur' (open practice).

Scholarship and education

Ibadis have their own collections of hadith and jurisprudence; 'al-Jaamic al-saxiix' (also known as Musnad al-Rabiic bin Xabiib) is among the most important. In North Africa, education and community governance follow a system with religious components, such as the 'cazzaaba' assemblies in the Mzab. In Oman, the state emphasizes interfaith tolerance and general Islamic principles without privileging a particular school.