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Similar activities took place in
Tunisia and Algeria through the leaders of Hizb al-Islah of Mzab
who joined in the activities of al-Hizb al-Dusturi of 'Abd al-Aziz
al-Th'alibi. Among the leading Ibadhi personalities who played
an important part in Tunisia were the late Muhammad al-Thamini,
originally from Mzab, who established a Bookshop in Tunis, and
participated in publishing and circulating Ibadhi literature,
and the late Sheikh Sulaiman al-Jadawi of Jerba, who was the
editor of the well-known paper, Murshid al-'Ummah. The leading
figures of the parallel activities in Algeria were Abu al-Yaqzan
Ibrahim, who issued about eight different newspaper during the
French rule, and Sheikh Baiyud Ibrahim B. 'Umar who is
responsible for the modern reformist movement in Mzab, and it
schools and institutions. Both men were active members of
Jam'iyat al-'Ulama and personal friends of the leading Sunni
scholars of the Jam'iyah. They were all sincere in their aim of
seeking better understanding with the neighbouring Sunnis. This
movement, which was largely inspired by al-Baruni and his
approach, relaxed the bitter attitude of opposition to the
Ibadhis in their different communities, and provided a better
atmosphere for the Ibadhis to present their views in a moderate
way. The latest contribution in this field has been made by
'Ali Mua'ammar of Jabal Nafusah, Libya, who recently published a
number of volumes under the title, al-Ibadhiya fi mawkib al-tarikh,
planning to present a general study of the Ibadhis in their
various countries. He also published other works dealing with
legal and religious matters. The other scholar is Muhammad 'Ali
Dabbuz of al-Qararah, Mzab, who undertook to rewrite the history
of the Maghrib from the Ibadhi point of view. Up till now he has
published seven volumes he dealt with the early history of the
Maghrib. The other volumes were devoted to study of modern
Algeria, Thawrat al-Jazair wa nahdatuha al-mubarakah. Both
authors were students of Sheikh Baiyud and were largely
influenced by his reformist views. Their works argue
persuasively and vigorously with Muslims that they should return
to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and leave aside the causes of
division resulting from following opinions of later scholars
affected by political differences. This was the Ibadhi
contribution to the modern Islamic attempt to restore the
original Islam of the Book and the Sunnah. This was the Ibadhi
contribution to the modern Islamic attempt to restore the
original Islam of the Book and the Sunnah. This trend which was
propagated by Muhammad 'Abduh and his student Rashid Rida, and
followed up by the activities of their students, brought to
Ibadhis new hope for better understanding. First it seemed to
them that at last their Muslim adversaries had started to
realise what they (Ibadhis) had stood for from the beginning.
The Ibadhis took part in this movement throughout the political
struggle for national independence in their different countries,
and stood side by side with their Sunni neighbours against the
invading powers. They tried always to present their views and
doctrines, to clear away the old misunderstanding and release
themselves from the traditional isolation in which they always
lived with regard to their Muslim neighbours. The Ibadhi
contribution to the Ibadhi studies branched into two directions:
a)
Providing their own
literature by edition and publishing old Ibadhi works, and
adding new contributions, in new writings to meet with the
present requirements.
b)
Presenting a clearer
picture of their views and history in order to gain better
understanding from non-Ibadhi Muslims.
As for non-Ibadhi Muslims, there
is no serious attempt yet on their side to study Ibadhism deeply
through its own sources. However, signs of such attention to
Ibadhi studies have started to appear in modern universities
through contemporary scholars who were no doubt directed towards
Ibadhi studies through the interest and contribution of the
European scholars. Cairo University, where an Ibadhi student
Muhammad Hanbulah under the supervision of Muhammad Sallam
Madhkur is undertaking a comparative study of the laws of
ownership in Ibadhi law and modern canon law in Libya, is taking
the lead in this direction. There is no doubt that the
originality of the subject and the possibilities it offers for
new lines of research will encourage more studies in the future.
The object of the present study
is to provide a clearer picture of the Ibadhi School based on
original but newly discovered Ibadhi material. Although in area
this study is concerned with Ibadhism in North Africa, it was
essential to study the origins of the Ibadhi movement and its
early founders in Basrah, its relation to the Kharijite
movement, its connection with the early events of Islamic
history and political development, the effect these (two latter)
had on the Ibadhi school with regard to its theological and
juridical views, then its expansion into North Africa. It is
also aimed to present a clear view of Ibadhi jurisprudence and
theology; the points of agreement and disagreement with the
contemporary opposition movements and schools of law, and some
distinguishing features of the Ibadhi doctrine, namely the
system of 'Walaya' and 'Bara’ah', and the stages of the Ibadhi
community. Three Ibadhi texts were edited as part of this
thesis to provide samples of Ibadhi literature covering the
fields of theology, jurisprudence, and the subject of Walaya and
Bara’ah which falls into both fields1.
The present study is so far the
first to be based on a large newly discovered foundation of
original material of early Ibadhi authorities and a thorough
examination of most extant Ibadhi works in different fields of
study. It is hoped that it will open a new horizon in the field
of Islamic studies and encourage further investigation in the
light of the new materials used here and the opinions reached.
However, it is only the first step in the study of Ibadhism, and
no doubt a great deal remains to be done; though the writer
trusts the way may have been paved by the results achieved in
the research. |
