"A great achievement and something to be celebrated. And it is hoped that the work’s success will open the door so that more important texts of the Ibāḍiyya can be edited, published, and translated."—Journal of Near Eastern Studies
"Of real importance as it contributes an essential literature to the fields of religious and Middle Eastern studies while also filling a gap in the field of Islamic studies."—Islamic Africa
"Hoffman’s impressive work is a welcomed addition to the field of Islamic studies, offering a detailed and comprehensive introduction to one of Islam’s lesser-known communities."—Review of Middle East Studies
"Polished and well written, ideal for the graduate classroom or even the advanced undergraduate."—Journal of the American Oriental Society
"A long-needed introduction to the thought of Islam’s often neglected third group. Rich in history, Hoffman breaks new ground on the theology of modern Ibadis in Oman, North Africa, and elsewhere."—Frank Griffel, Yale University
"Ibadi Islam played a pivotal role in the history of Islamic thought and practice, and continues to be an influential force in the contemporary Middle East and Africa. This book is of real importance to the study of Islam and religions in general."—Brannon Wheeler, author of Mecca and Eden: Ritual, Relics, and Territory in Islam
Description
Ibāḍī Islam is a distinct sect of Islam, neither Sunni nor Shi‘ite, that emerged in the early Islamic period and remains active today in small pockets of North Africa and as the dominant sect of Oman. Despite its antiquity, it has often been misunderstood and remains little known. Seeking to redress this gap and to introduce this Islamic school to the non-Arabic-speaking world, Hoffman offers the first book-length overview of Ibāḍī theology published in English.
Beginning with a concise overview of Ibāḍī history, Hoffman delineates the movement’s role in the development of Islamic thought, tracing its distinctive teachings and literary history. In the second section, she provides annotated translations of two complementary modern Ibāḍī theological texts. This unique volume elucidates Ibāḍī religious and political thought by allowing its tradition to speak for itself.
The Essentials of Ibāḍī Islam gives readers, specialists and nonspecialists alike, a rare opportunity to understand the major teachings of Ibāḍī Islam.
About the Author
Valerie J. Hoffman is professor of religion and director of the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. She is the author of Sufism, Mystics, and Saints in Modern Egypt.
May 2012