Search the Community

Do Zaydi believe in jinn possession? If so, What do they say about black magic and how to get rid of both?

Arabic: العليئية English: Al-'Aliyiyyah or Aliyiyism or Aliyiy refers to a Sufi order or tariqa within Zaydi Shia Islam. Aliyites are a Sufi group that have an emphasis on each individual studying to become like their own scholar, with an emphasis on acting on one's own ijtihad, interpreting Quran and Hadiths, and not blindly following religious beliefs. Because of this, the Aliyites are not organized and they don't have a central authority or single scholar or Imam that unifies their community, and internal differences are abound. The Aliyites have a range of different beliefs and interpretations. They believe there can be more than one Imam at one time, for different locations and different people groups who speak different languages. The job of an Imam is to help people stay guided and teach them how not to make ijtihad and to prevent misinterpretation and abuse of religious beliefs and systems, as well as to be the rope of Allah, a spiritual guide. Similar to the Alevis of Turkiye, the Aliyites don't force anyone to practice Islam or do things like wearing hijab, claiming that everything is a choice, Allah gave all human beings free will, and these matters are between a Muslim and God and are personal, and so judgement isn't passed for women who don't wear hijab or people who get tattoos, etc., although following the Quran and Hadith and imams is encouraged and highly beneficial in the Aliyite tradition. Nobody knows for sure how old the Aliyite movement actually is or how many followers it has, due to its secretive and underground nature, but one narrative claims that the Aliyite faith developed when Yemeni Zaydi Shiites and Yemeni Sufis from the Sunni Hanafi Madhab, traveled to the Sokoto Caliphate, a Sunni Islamic Country in West Africa, while traveling the global trade routes, and ended up being embedded in a group of Muslims who believes the Orishas were prophets and imams whose message had been distorted, and who had been deified when they were merely servants of Allah, and not deities. These Muslims who believe in the orishas were considered heretics, and often fought with leaders and the government of the Sokoto Caliphate. Even though the Aliyites don't worship the Orishas, they have some heretical beliefs, including a belief that Imam Ali is a continuation of the life of Jesus Christ, and that Imam Ali also was the same person as Orisha Ogun, the Orisha of Iron and War. Imam Ali/Orisha Ogun is seen as a figurehead or the face of Aliyite Islam. The Aliyites also believe Orisha Obatala (whom they called Imam ObatAllah) was Jesus Christ too.

Sunni here, interested in what the Zaidi understanding of Shaykhayn (Abu Bakr Radiyallahu An and Umar Radiyallahy An) and Uthman Radiyallahu An. Is it true that you prohibit yourselves from cursing them? Do you view them as muslims? Do you think they were sinful or not? Also, as with Ahlus Sunnah, do you agree with us that Imam Ali KarramAllahu Wajhu loved/respected them? I am interested as I have read that the Zaidis are more moderate Shia, I'm simply interested to see how far this moderation goes. Also, unrelated question, is it true that you do not do Taqiyyah in the manner of the Shia?

Zaydi Muslims are a branch of Shi'a Islam closest to Sunni Islam more than other branches of Shia Islam are. It is widely believed that Zaydi Shi'a Islam is the oldest sect from the Shi'a branch of Islam although Twelver Shi'a believe otherwise. Zaydi Muslims today are concentrated in Yemen but used to have a much more wider reach, at times being the largest sect of Shia Islam. Zaydi Shiites even used to control the Iranian Caspian region. Today, most Zaidis are confined to Yemen but there are Zaydi communities outside Yemen. There are a few in Saudi Arabia, a good population being in Najran. Some small villages in the south of Saudi Arabia are controlled by Zaydis. Zaydis also control the Islamic Sultanate of Qarsherskiy, a small, self-proclaimed Islamic state in North America that has been under control of various sects of Islam, first Maturidi Sufi Sunnis, than Salafis and Wahhabis, then Ismailis, and now Zaydis. Many Zaydis live in other parts of North America, particularly the US and Canada where many refugees from Yemen settled. Many question if popular YouTuber and Muslim comedian, Dulla Mulla, based in Detroit area, is Sunni or Zaydi.

On a very serious note, Sunni brothers really need to check the works Im posting in the comments below. These works identify SUFYANI I, predict the rise of SUFYANI II in this decade and more importantly notify the already over first coming of DAJJAL and warn against the more dangerous second coming of DAJJAL masquerading as Mahdi, ALL FROM SUNNI PROPHECIES ONLY. More than just theories, most of the matter in these works consists of almost ascertained facts, fulfilled prophecies and prophecies very close to being fulfilled.

Assalamu alaykum everyone! I was wondering if anyone could help me with my study of zaidism? Is there anywhere online where I can read books on zaydi fiqh and hadiths etc or anywhere in Australia where I can buy books??? I like studying religion and knowing more about different beliefs so if anyone could help me that would be great!!

Salam, I would like to have a better understanding of my Shia brothers and sisters who follow other branches of Islam. I would like to learn about Zaydi, Ismaili, Druze, Alawi,Yarsan, and Bektashi, but I'm not looking for superficial stuff I could find online I would like in depth teachings that cover prayers (and prayer times), Philosophical trends, what is considered Halal and Haram, view of scripture, are books besides the Qur'an and Hadith used, how you perform salat, basically everything. both the esoteric and exoteric views of scripture, and your view on the Mahdi. If you are willing to teach me please let me know, I'll even take book and pdf recommendations and please be of the sect you are teaching because I don't want to get any bogus information. Thank you for your time

I know the widespread belief of 12'er Shias regarding Abu Bakr (R.A) Umar (R.A). I am curious where Zaydis stand on this.