Beliefs of Az-Zaydiyyah (Zaidis)

30-9-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

What are the authoritative sources of Az-Zaydiyyah? Do they approve of the Quran of the Sunnis or that of the Shee‘ah which includes, what they call, Soorat Al-Wilaayah?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Az-Zaydiyyah (Zaidis) is one of the Shee‘ah sects and is the closest among them to the Sunnis. It was named after Zayd ibn ‘Ali Zayn Al-‘Aabideen ibn Al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them both, who died in 122 A.H. Among the books he wrote were: Al-Majmoo‘ fil Hadeeth and Al-Majmoo‘ fil Fiqh, which were put together in one book called Al-Majmoo‘ Al-Kabeer.

Az-Zaydiyyah accept the leadership of a less eligible candidate even if a more eligible one is available. In other words, they believe in the validity of the Imamate of Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmaan  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them despite their belief that ‘Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him was worthier. Moreover, Az-Zaydiyyah depend on the noble Quran that was sent down upon Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and they do not agree with the distortions made in the Quran by Ar-Raafidhah.

On the other hand, however, they agree with Al-Mu‘tazilah (Mu'tazilites) on issues related to the Names and Attributes of Allaah The Almighty, fate and other beliefs. Sunnis believe that the Quran is the uncreated speech of Allaah The Almighty; from Him it started and to Him it shall return.

And Allaah Knows best.

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