Abtariyya
Template:Infobox sects and denominations
Abtariyya, or Batariyya with fatḥa or ḍamma on the bā', is a branch of the "Zaydis" sect and among the companions of Hasan ibn Salih ibn Hayy and Kathir al-Nawa, a famous poet who was given the nickname Abtar. This group was also called Salahiyya.
History
It should be known that "Batariyya" were from the Ahl al-Hadith and followers of Hasan ibn Salih ibn Hayy Hamadani Thawri Kufi (100–186 AH) and Kathir al-Nawa, (meaning the date seller) from the contemporaries of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and among the companions of Salim ibn Abi Hafsa (died in 137 AH), and Hakam ibn Utayba Kufi "died in 115 AH" and Abu al-Miqdam Thabit Haddad from the companions of Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) and Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) and Salama ibn Kuhayl (died in 137 AH). Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Nadim in the book Al-Fihrist writes that Hasan ibn Salih ibn Hayy (who was born in 100 AH and died in 168 AH), was one of the elders of the Zaydi Shia and was counted among their jurists and theologians. Among his books are: the book Al-Tawhid, Imamat Walad Ali min Fatima and Al-Jami' fi al-Fiqh. Hasan had two brothers named Ali ibn Salih and Salih ibn Salih who were on the creed of their brother Hasan ibn Salih and were counted among the Zaydi theologians and narrators. Kashshi narrates from "Sudayr" that I came to the service of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) and Salama ibn Kuhayl, Abu al-Miqdam Thabit Haddad, Salim ibn Abi Hafsa and Kathir al-Nawa were with me and near His Holiness his brother Zayd ibn Ali was sitting, so they turned to the Imam and said that we love Ali (peace be upon him) and Hasan (peace be upon him) and Husayn (peace be upon him) and we disassociate from their enemies, His Holiness said yes. They also said that we love Abu Bakr and Umar too and disassociate from their enemies, then Zayd ibn Ali turned to them and said: Do you disassociate from Fatima (peace be upon her)? Batartum amrana batarakum Allah, you severed our line, may God sever your line, and from that day they became known as Batariyya. Mamaqani in the book Miqlas al-Hidaya writes: This sect was also called "Batariyya" in another way by preceding the dotted tā' over the single bā' and this is the opinion of Fazil Kazimi "in Takmilat al-Naqd" who narrated the above hadith as follows: "Atabra'un min Fatima tabra'tum amrana tabra'ukum Allah" and from that day they were called "Tabariyya" meaning those who seek disassociation[1].
Etymology
Muhammad ibn Hasan Tusi has stated a story in this regard: One day Kathir al-Nawa and several others went to Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) that Zayd ibn Ali the Imam's brother was also present in the assembly. They announced to the Imam that firstly Ali, Hasan and Husayn (peace be upon them) and secondly Abu Bakr and Umar they recognize as their wali. At this time Zayd turned towards them and said: Do you seek disassociation from Fatima (peace be upon her)? You corrupted and severed our matter! (Batartum Amrana) So may God corrupt and sever your matter (Batakum Allah) and from that time they were called "Abtariyya"[2]. This story was apparently fabricated by the opponents of Abtariyya, since they, like other sects of Zaydis, considered Zayd ibn Ali ibn Husayn as their leader and Imamate as specific to the children of Ali and Fatima (peace be upon them). It seems that Abtariyya which is abbreviated as "Batariyya", are attributed to "Abtar" which was the nickname of Kathir al-Nawa and this nickname was given to him by Mughira ibn Sa'd, founder of the Mughiriyya sect[3]. Abtariyya were also called "Salahiyya", since one of the other prominent figures of this group is "Hasan ibn Salih ibn Hayy" and the term Salahiyya is taken from his name[4].
Beliefs of the Batriyya
Nawbakhti writes: The Batriyya believed that the best and most deserving person after the Prophet for the Imamate was Ali (peace be upon him). They were among the steadfast and firm supporters of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and they said that his opponents were people of Hell.
However, they considered allegiance to Abu Bakr and Umar valid and remained silent regarding Uthman and they argued that although Ali (peace be upon him) was more deserving and worthy than them, since he greeted them regarding the Caliphate, [allegiance to them was permissible]. This precisely means that someone may have a right to a matter but waive it to others.
They all reached consensus on this statement that Ali (peace be upon him) was the best Companion and friend of the Prophet, but despite this, he acted according to the commands of Abu Bakr and Umar and like Sufyan al-Thawri, they deemed wiping over leather socks, drinking intoxicating nabidh, and eating eel permissible, then they differed regarding the war of Ali (peace be upon him) and fighting against his combatants.
The weak ones of the Zaydiyya who are called "Ajliyya" and are among the companions of Harun ibn Sa'id al-Ajli (died in 145 AH), they are also counted among the Batriyya. They called people to friendship with Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) and then mixed his Imamate with the wilayah of Abu Bakr and Umar.
They are among the best sects of the Shia in the view of Sunnis, because while they consider Ali (peace be upon him) superior, they also accept the Imamate of Abu Bakr and Umar. But they criticized Uthman and Talhah and Zubayr, and they deemed accompanying and going out to war with any of the children of Ali (peace be upon him) obligatory from the perspective of Enjoining good and forbidding evil.
They do not consider a specific person for the Imamate, rather whoever rises from the children of Ali (peace be upon him), from any generation, they consider him the Imam. Abd al-Qahir al-Baghdadi writes: The Batriyya considered the Imamate of Abu Bakr and Umar valid. However, they believed that if people acknowledged the Imamate of Hazrat Ali (peace be upon him) it would be better, but this act would not cause their immorality or disbelief. The only difference this sect has with the Sulaymaniyya sect is that unlike the Sulaymaniyya, they did not declare Uthman an unbeliever, and for this reason, they are respected among Ahl al-Sunnah. Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari writes: The Batriyya, unlike other Shia sects, denied the Return of the dead to this world and consider Ali (peace be upon him) Imam and Caliph from the day they pledged allegiance to him after Uthman.
Conditions of the Imam according to the Batriyya
All Zaydiyya, of which the Batriyya is one of the branches, deem the Imamate of the inferior permissible on the condition that the superior consents[5].
See also
Footnotes
Sources
- Muhammad Jawad Mashkur, Farhang Firaq Islami, Mashhad, Astan Quds Razavi Publications, year 1372 SH, 2nd ed, entry date: n.d., view date: 14 Dey 1404 SH.
- Hasan ibn Musa Nawbakhti, Firaq al-Shia, Najaf, year 1355 AH, entry date: n.d., view date: 14 Dey 1404 SH.
- Nashwan ibn Sa'id al-Himyari, al-Hur al-Ayn, edited by Kamal Mustafa, Cairo, year 1948 AD, entry date: n.d., view date: 14 Dey 1404 SH.
- Shaykh Tusi, Ikhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal, edited by Hasan Mustafawi, Mashhad, year 1348 SH, entry date: n.d., view date: 14 Dey 1404 SH.
- ↑ . Mohammad Javad Mashkour, Culture of Islamic Sects, Mashhad, Astane Quds Razavi Publications, year 1372 SH, 2nd ed, p. 9 with editing.
- ↑ Shaykh Tusi, Ikhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal, edited by Hasan Mustafawi, Mashhad, year 1348 SH, Vol. 1, p. 236.
- ↑ Nashwan ibn Sa'id al-Himyari, Al-Hur al-Ayn, edited by Kamal Mustafa, Cairo, year 1948 CE, Vol. 1, p. 155.
- ↑ Hasan ibn Musa al-Nawbakhti, Firaq al-Shi'a, Najaf, year 1355 AH, Vol. 1, p. 13.
- ↑ Muhammad ibn Abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani, al-Milal wa al-Nihal, Cairo, year 1370 AH, vol 1, p 320.