AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ZAIDIYYAH, ISMA’ILISM, AND ISNAASHARIYYA BEGINNINGS AND THEIR DIFFERENCES

Abstract

Shia, which is accepted as a political power after the Tawwabin uprising, was divided into several factions over the course of political events and has become upper identity for those who believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib is the successor of Prophet Muhammad. Although Kalam and History of Sects sources mentioned many Shia factions, we can study them under three main group as Zaidiyyah (Fiver), Isma’ilism and Imamiyyah (Twelver). Zaidiyyah was divided into three factions as Jarudiyya, Salihiyya and Sulaymaniyya. It is seen that, the last two of them do not have standard Shia beliefs. Isma’ilism was divided into two factions as Nizari and Musta’li. Nizari represents the esoteric and extreme group of Isma’ilism whereas Musta’li is close to Twelver sect in terms of its basic beliefs and fiqh opinions. Twelver is the largest factions of Shia Islam and represents the majority of Shia thought.