Your search

This dissertation analyzes the ongoing attempts of Omani Ibadis to re-envision Islamic identity in the modern era. Arguably Islam’s oldest distinct sect, Ibadism has offered alternative formulations of Islamic belief and jurisprudence that never claimed the adherence of a majority of Muslims, but thrived in enclaves in Arabia and North and East Africa. Omani Ibadis’ encounter with modernity began around the turn of the 19th century and accelerated after 1970 under Sultan Qaboos. Like Muslims across the globe, the Ibadis of Oman have navigated the transformations of modernity, striving for coherence between their sectarian identity and the evolving world around them. A mixed methodological approach combines textual analysis and fieldwork to examine the modern religious discourse of Ibadi ʿulamāʾ primarily, and of lay Ibadis secondarily. Interviews with 58 diverse individuals offer a window into the reality of public religious life in Oman. The survey of the works of contemporary ʿulamāʾ encompasses books, articles, pamphlets, video lectures, and social media postings. The study of these resources enables a set of observations about the engagements of modern Ibadis with their textual tradition. The modern state’s control over public religious life, the centrality of fear as a recognized and valued tool for inspiring positive behavior, and the concern with presenting Ibadi identity in a way that appeals to a broad Sunni audience are important themes that recur throughout the chapters. Additionally, the language of tolerance emerges as a ubiquitous idiom in contemporary Omani Ibadi discourse, and scholars and lay believers alike express their sect’s distinctiveness in terms of positive relations with religious others. I argue that the spread of Saudi Salafism presents an enduring challenge to Ibadism’s place within the international umma. Here, a study of Salafi scholars’ opinions on Ibadism informs a subsequent exploration of contemporary Ibadis’ responses to those opinions as well as their own discourse on Salafism. Finally, this dissertation documents the recent emergence of the tayyār ʿaqlānī (rationalist stream) of Ibadism, a movement that challenges the state-affiliated Ibadi mainstream and advocates for internal criticism in order to better integrate Ibadism into modernity.

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between Christians and the IbadT of Oman, as a contribution to Christian-Muslim dialogue. The main focus is an assessment of the contribution offered in the past by the small missionary presence, and of the potential scope and areas of dialogue between the recent guest-worker Christian community, and their hosts - a Muslim country growing in international status. The thesis tells the story of a dynamic engagement in dialogue. The history, customs and beliefs of the country will be outlined, with particular emphasis on meeting points with Christian missionaries. The History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman by SalTl bin Razlk, translated by CP. Badger and published in 1871, is the source of several more recent works consulted. The Journal of the Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church of America, Neglected Arabia/ Arabia Calling: 1892-1962 and the quarterly The Muslim World (from 1911) have been among other main sources. Some of the many books and articles by Samuel Zwemer have been read; he visited Muscat in Oman on several occasions - his brother Peter contracting a fatal illness while serving there. The IbadT believe their understanding of Islam to be close to that of the Prophet Muhammad; individual in faith, they fiercely claim to be orthodox in their interpretation of the Our'an and they are quick to speak out when they think Its essential tenets are being compromised. They can therefore perhaps afford to be relaxed when it comes to living alongside those who are not themselves Ibadi and are willing to listen to them with an open mind. Their courteous meeting with the Christians they welcome to their country offers clues in the wider field of Christian-Muslim relations.

L'OBJET DE LA THESE EST D'ETUDIER LA THEOLOGIE IBADITE, DANS SON ESSENCE PHILOSOPHIQUE ET DANS SON EVOLUTION HISTORIQUE. ELLE SE COMPOSE DE DEUX PARTIES : LA PREMIERE EST ESSENTIELLEMENT HISTORIQUE, PUISQUE SON OBJET EST L'ETUDE DE L'HISTOIRE DE LA DOCTRINE DEPUIS SON APPARITION JUSQU'A L'EPOQUE DE SON APOGEE (DU SEPTIEME SIECLE J.C. AU DOUXIEME J.C. DU PREMIER DE L'HEGIRE AU SIXIEME DE L'H.) ELLE TRAITE DES ORIGINES DU HARIGISME PRIMITIF, DE SON RAPPORT AVEC L'AS'ARISME ET LE MU'TAZILISME, DE L'APPARITION DE L'IBADISME ET DE SA CONQUETE DU MAGHREB. UNE PARTIE EST CONSACREE A L'HISTOIRE DE LA DYNASTIE RUSTAMIDE ET PARTICULIEREMENT DE LA CITE DE TAHERT. LA THESE TRAITE AUSSI LES DEUX PRINCIPALES REVOLTES IBADITES AU MAGHREB CONTRE LES FATIMIDES, DONT CELLE DE L'HOMME A L'ANE. UNE APPROCHE DES CONDITIONS HISTORIQUES QUI AVAIENT ETE A LA BASE DE L'ESSOR DE LA THEOLOGIE IBADITE EST FAITE EN PARTICULIER LA SITUATION ECONOMIQUE ET GEOGRAPHIQUE QUE DES ZONES CONTROLEES PAR L'IBADISME ; LE ZAB ALGERIEN, LE DJERID TUNISIEN ET GABAL NEFUSA EN TRIPOLITAINE. LA DEUXIEME PARTIE ETUDIE LA THEOLOGIE IBADITE DEPUIS SA GENESE QUI A CORRESPONDU AVEC L'APPARITION DU PREMIER CREDO, JUSQU'A SON EVOLUTION VERS UNE SORTE DE SCOLASTIQUE, LE KALAM IBADITE. CETTE EVOLUTION ETAIT LE FRUIT D'APRES LUTTES THEOLOGIQUES INTERNES ET EXTERNES A L'IBADISME. L'INTRODUCTION DE LA LOGIQUE ARISTOTALICIENNE MARQUA L'APOGEE DE LA REFLEXION DOCTRINALE. LA THESE ETUDIE CETTE THEOLOGIE A SON EPOQUE HEROIQUE : CELLE DE LA SPECULATION ET DE LA DIALECTIQUE. LES THEMES CLASSIQUES SONT ETUDIES UN A UN EN VUE DE DEGAGE LA PROBLEMATIQUE DE CETTE THEOLOGIE: TRANSCENDANCE DIVINE ABSOLUE ET CONTINGENCE ABSOLUE DU MONDE. CETTE PROBLEMATIQUE EST ON NE PEUT MIEUX EXPRIMEE A L'EPOQUE DE WARGALANI ET DE 'ABDAL-KAFI ET DONC AU SIXIEME SIECLE DE L'HEGIRE.

The aim of the study is to identify the weaknesses in the current judicial system in Oman and propose reforms to strengthen them. In order to achieve this, the constitutional principal of the ‘Rule of Law’ is used as the main area of focus. Reforms to enhance the adherence to the rule of law may lead to a more effective judicial reforms to enhance the performance and efficiency of the judiciary. The study aims to look at the history of the justice system in Oman and try to fuse traditional conceptions of justice with modern western conceptions, to reach an indigenous justice system for Oman. The Imamate system is 1250 years old and has an extensive judicial experience. The institutions of the Imamate and its functions are compared to the modern institutions of the state today and to western judicial thought. The Imamate state was influenced by the Ibadi sect of Islam and the research aims at bridging different religious thoughts of justice to that found in Oman. It is argued that the values of justice worldwide are the same and are derived from religion. The study analyses the four main universal pillars of the rule of law, namely: Government bound by the law, Equality before the law, Accessibility, Impartiality and Judicial Independence and the Protection of Fundamental Rights. A survey has been conducted to measure the level of adherence to the rule of law, and to identify the key weaknesses through a numerical indicator. Based on the literature and the survey findings, proposals for reform in the different sectors of the judiciary are identified and proposed.