Encyclopedia of Islam

Zaydi Shiism

  

719  J

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ashes thrown into the Euphrates. His movement, 

however, did not die.

Zaydi missionaries succeeded in winning con-

verts in the Caucasus region, near the Caspian 

Sea, where two rival branches of the sect became 

established: the Qasimis (named after al-Qasim 

ibn Ibrahim, d. 860) and the Nasiris (named after 

al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Nasir li’l-Haqq, d. 917). The 

founders of these groups had both been successful 

Zaydi missionaries, respected for their knowledge 

of the religious sciences and law. Only some of the 

later leaders of these communities felt qualified to 

call themselves Imams, however. Those who fell 

short in these qualifications were known as “invit-

ers” (sing. dai) and “commanders” (sing. amir). 

During the 12th century, Zaydi influence declined 

due to factionalism and the rise of i

smaili

 s

hiism

.

Nevertheless, a Zaydi presence survived in the 

Caucasus area until the 16th century, when the 

last remnants converted to Twelve-Imam Shiism.

Zaydi Shiism has had a longer history in 

Yemen. It was first brought there from the Cau-

casus region by al-Hadi ila al-Haqq al-Mubin (the 

Guide to Clear Truth, d. 911), the grandson of 

al-Qasim ibn Ibrahim. Al-Hadi won the loyalty of 

tribal groups in the vicinity of the city of Saada, 

which is still the center of Zaydi Shiism. He and 

his heirs were buried in the city’s main mosque. 

Several Zaydi sects appeared, differing over lead-

ership and theological issues. The popularity of 

s

UFism

 in 14th-century Yemen forced the Zaydis 

to define their views toward this other expression 

of Islamic devotion and piety. Most of their lead-

ers attacked Sufism because they thought it ran 

counter to the 

sharia

; they also did not like anti-

Shii views held by the Sufis. Later, Sufi support 

for Ottoman rule in Yemen led to further animosi-

ties. Nevertheless, in the 17th century the Zaydi 

Imams became powerful enough to establish a 

dynasty, known as the Qasimis, who ruled Yemen 

intermittently from 1650 to 1962, depending on 

their strength.

Even though the Zaydis call their leaders 

Imams, their concepts of legitimate 

aUthority

have tended to be closer to those of the Sun-

nis than to those of the Twelve-Imam Shia and 

the Ismailis. Zaydi Imams claim descent from 

Muhammad through Ali and Fatima, but they 

acquire their position by their abilities, instead of 

being designated by their predecessors, and they 

do not claim infallibility or secret knowledge. 

They recognize the legitimacy of the first caliphs 

and their tradition of law resembles that of the 

Sunnis, especially Shafii 

fiqh

 in later centuries. On 

the other hand, Zaydis have generally followed, 

after some disputation, the theological views of 

the  m

Utazili

  s

chool

, including belief in God’s 

oneness and justice, human free will, and denial 

of 

anthropomorphism

.

See also 

daawa

; U

mayyad

 c

aliphate

.