A Study on the Imâmate Literature of the Havâric, the Shi’a and the Mu’tazilah Sects

Abstract

We aimed to collect the political literature of the main Islamic sects; the Havâric, the Shi’a, and the Mu’tazilah up until the 5/11. century. Under the shed of light of this literature, we wish to find out the early date when the first book was written on Imâmate. And also to shed light on the political character of these sects theoretically. Therefore we briefed their active stance towards the political powers. History of the Hâricites and the Shi’ites witness that they are practically political sects and they organized revolts and disobeyed the governments. Characteristically, their compilation of imâmate literature goes parallel. Hâricites compiled very little number of books, for they spent all their life to revolt. However the Shi’ite scholars wrote a vast number of books on the imâmate. The Mu’tazilites, also compiled significant number of literature. This shows that, though they have not revolted against the governments, they have also been politicized, by having close relationships with some rulers and were influential in the governments. However, when they were kept in abeyance of the political power, though they took the stance of opposition, they have never revolted. They preserved, in all circumstances to be the people of the wisdom and intellect. Therefore they influenced and contributed alot in the Islamic thought and Kalâm. All the other sects, including the Shi’te, developed their thought by copying and responding the Mu’tazilite intiation of new ideas and methods of arguement. We have come to the conclusion of that the first imâmate book had been compiled by Zaid b. Ali (d. 122/740), the founder of Zaydite sect. The name of his books are Kitâbu’l Imâmah, and al-Vasıyyah va’l Imâmah

Keywords

• Hâricites, Shi’ites, Mu’tezilites, Imâmate literature, the erliest written book on Imâmate, Zaid b. Ali (d. 122/739)

Haricilik, Şia ve Mutezile'nin İmamet Literatürü Üzerine Çalışma

Abstract

Keywords

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