Law and Politics in the Early Ibāḍī Communities: Abū ‘Ubayda al-Tamīmī’s Risāla to Abū ’l-Khaṭṭāb al-Ma‘āfirī

This paper aims at analyzing the role of the second Ibāḍī imām, Abū ‘Ubayda Muslim b. Abī Karīma al-Tamīmī in political activism and in developing early Ibāḍī law. Abū ‘Ubayda succeeded to Jābir b. Zayd at the helm of the Ibāḍī movement in Basra which he led until his death during the al-Manṣūr caliphate (136/754-158/775). The Ibāḍī sources describe him as a pious worshipper, a brilliant orator, an excellent teacher, a great scholar, covering fields of theology, jurisprudence, and traditions, and, finally, as an excellent political leader.
In this paper I will focus mainly on the Risālat Abī Karīma fī ’l-zakāt li-’l-Imām Abī ’l-Khaṭṭāb al-Ma‘āfirī, which he addressed to the Maghribi Ibāḍī imām Abū ’l-Khaṭṭāb between 757-761. The letter is a reply (jawāb) from Abū ‘Ubayda on questions concerning the payment of zakāt as well other matters relating to both law and dogma. It offers valuable insights into the relationships between the Ibāḍī community in Basra and the Ibāḍis in Maghreb.