The caliph and the heretic [electronic resource] : Ibn Sabaʼ and the origins of Shīʼism / by Sean W. Anthony.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Anthony, Sean W.

Series:

Islamic history and civilization ; v. 91.

Islamic history and civilization. Studies and texts, 0929-2403 ; v. 91

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Shīʻah--History.

Shīʻah.

Muslim heretics.

ʻAbd Allāh ibn Sabaʼ, 7th cent.

ʻAbd Allāh ibn Sabaʼ.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 352 pages)

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book is an examination of the traditions and legends concerning early Islam’s first and most infamous heretic, the Yemenite Jew known as ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sabaʾ. Tracing the evolution and transformation of the many stories and narratives about Ibn Sabaʾ as adapted by Sunnī and Shīʿī scholars alike, this work attempts for the first time to give a comprehensive account of the formation of the image of Ibn Sabaʾ as the quintessential heretic of Islam’s early years. It also offers a new interpretation of the historical importance and beliefs of Ibn Sabaʾ and those early Shīʿa reviled as his followers, the Sabaʾīya. The end result is a revolutionary, new portrait of Shīʿite origins and early Islamic sectarianism.

Contents:

Ibn Sabaʻ and the Sayfian corpus

Sayf ibn ʻUmar and the Sabaʻiya (i): the caliphate of ʻUthman ibn ʻAffan

Sayf ibn ʻUmar and the Sabaʻiya (ii): ʻAli ibn Abi Tālib the Battle of the camel

Excursus: The Sayfian corpus in the riwaya of Nasṛ ibn Muzahịm

Ibn Sabaʻ and the heresiographers

The execution of Ibn Sabaʻ

The parousia of ʻAli ibn Abi Tạlib

Excursus 1: ʻAli in the clouds

Excursus 2: The letter of ʻAli given to ʻAbd Allah ibn Wahb al-Hamdani

The Sabaʻiya of the Umayyad period.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-283-35673-2

9786613356734

90-04-21606-5

OCLC:

771999429

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004216068 DOI