A Brief History of the Mu’tazila and Their Beliefs
The origins of Mu‘tazila sect remain a subject for debate, but a number of scholars believe that the founder of the sect was the Bas̩ran Wāṣil…
The Sunni Theory of Leadership – Part One
This article compares the Sunni theory of caliphate with the Shia theory of leadership.
The Khawarij View of Legitimate Leadership
The Khawarij sect emerged during the first civil war (656-61) following ‘Alī ibn Tālib’s decision to accept arbitration at the Battle of S̩iffīn.
The Shi’i View on Legitimate Leadership
Imamate is a cornerstone of Shi'i belief, one of the pillars of faith, and it distinguishes a Shi'i from a Sunni.
A Brief History of Early Shī’īsm
The exact nature, as well as the origins of early Shī‘īsm prior to the ‘Abbāsid revolution and even during the early ‘Abbāsid period, is…
The Evolution of Early Shī‘īsm During the ‘Abbāsid Period
In this article we examine the history of early Shī‘īsm during the ‘Abbāsid period. This covers the period from Ja‘far al-Sādiq (d.765/148)…
The Origins of the Zaydīs
The Zaydīs arose after the revolt of their fourth Imām, Zayd b. ‘Alī (d.122 / 740). Zayd was also the half-brother of Muh̩ammad al-Bāqir.
The Origin of the Ismā‘īlīs
The hayra (confusion) surrounding the death of the eleventh Imām was an opportunity for an opposing faction of Imāmi Shī‘īs to propagate what…
The Early Shī‘ī: From the 11th Imām to the Būyids
In the period (260-334/874 -945) early Shī‘īsm eventually developed into Ithnā ‘Ashariyya Shī‘īsm. To gain an insight into how this process…
Imam Al-Tabari – A Brief Biography
This articles give a brief biography of Imam al-Tabari and a describes his magnum opus; the Taʾrīkh al-rusul wa ’l-mulūk wa ’l-k̲h̲ulafā.