"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الجزء II. ج. ج. لوريمر. ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٣‎٧‎٤] (١٢٦٢/٨٩١)

2374
importance outside of ^Oman, was founded at some time between 685 and
750 A. D. by ^Abdullah-bin-Ibadh, Tamimi, from .wbom its name is
most probably derived.* The Ibadhi principles were rapidly adopted by
the population of 'Oman, and it is related that by the 13th century of
the Christian era they had become not only predominant but almost
universal.
Principles of We are not concerned here with the theological doctrinesf of the Ibadhis;
the IbaahiB. we mug t account of their views on the subject of religious govern
ment,—the matter on which they themselves appear, in the beginning, to
have laid the most stress. The early Ibadhis differed from both Sunnis
and Shi'ahs in rejecting the opinion that Islam needed a permanent and
visible head; and, while they allowed that an Imam or spiritual leader
might lawfully be appointed when circumstances so required, they insisted
that he should be specially elected in every case, and that the Imamate or
Khalifate should not be hereditary. They agreed with the Sunnis in
regarding the Khalifahs Abu Bakr and 'Umr as regularly appointed, and
therefore as entitled to respect ; but they were at variance with both
Sunnis and Shi'ahs in their repudiation of all the later Khalifahs as
usurpers. These were the original opinions of the Ibadhis, and they have
been maintained without change to the present day.
The Ibadhiyah are a denomination by themselves and must not be
confounded with Muhammadan or quasi-Muhammadan sects such as the
Isma^iliyah, Murjiyah, Mu'tazilah, Qaramitah, Sifatiyah, etc.; the mere
fact that they are neither Sunnis nor Shi'ahs is perhaps principalij
accountable for the mistaken opinions on this point that have sometimes
been entertained, even among Muhammadans in the Persian Gulf.
History of Persistent efforts were made by the Sunni Khalifahs of Islam, during
the Ibadhi gome three centuries, to reduce the Ibadhis of ; Oman to subjection an
Imamate. conformity ; and in the course of the conflict, probably in the year
AcD.^ the Ibadhis proceeded, in accordance with their own tenets, to elect an
Imam whose duty it should be to direct their religious, their military,
and their political affairs. The designs of the Khalifahs were ultima e J
frustrated; but an elective Imamate continued to exist in ^
though increasingly threatened with extinction by the principle ^
hereditary succession, until the year 1788, when an Imam of^
was elected for the last time. The ordinary functions of administra i
have been carried on since 1784 by members of the family from ^ *
the Imams were drawn at the time when the Imamate ceased; but e
later rulers have possessed no religious attributes, and they a;
governed under the purely secular titles of " Saiyid " or " Sultan.
The MutSwi*- In recent times a sect known as the Mutawi'ah (sing^ ar
Bn or Mut- u» • rl have
awW sect of Mutawwa' have come into existence among the Ibadhis an
e Ibadhis. played a considerable part in the domestic politics of^Omain^Jlhe^^^
t *, Il i,¥ a been suggested that the word Ibadhi is oonnected with the ' "'S?
Whifce, but this view is controverted by the Rev. Mr. Badger, the principa ^
ity on the Ibadhiyah. It is noteworthy however, in this connection that t
i mil 0 are the , most extreme sect of the Ibadhiyah, use a flag -tings
.t TJ 'ese are described by the Eev. Mr. Badger and Colonel R obs in the wi"
cited m the footnote on page 2349.