Badreddin al-Houthi
 | |
| Religious Affiliation | Zaydiyya |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Hasani Sayyids |
| Well-known Relatives | Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi (son), 'Abd al-Malik al-Houthi (son) |
| Birth | 1345/1926 |
| Place of Birth | Dhahyan, a district of Saada, Yemen |
| Death | 1431/2010 |
| Notable roles | Spiritual leader of Yemen's Ansar Allah Movement |
| Works | Al-Taysir fi al-Tafsir, Al-Majmu'a al-wafiya fi l-fi'at al-baghiya, Al-Silsila al-Dhahabiya fi al-Radd ‘ala al-Wahhabiyya |
| Activities | Formation of al-Haqq Party and Shabab al-Mu'min (Believing Youth) |
Sayyid Badr al-Dīn al-Hoūthī (Arabic:سيِّد بَدر الدّين الحوثي), (b. 1345/1926 d. 1431/2010) was a prominent Zaydi scholar and the spiritual leader of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement. He was the father of Hussein al-Houthi, the founder of the Ansar Allah movement. Following Hussein's death, another of Badreddin's sons, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, assumed leadership of the movement.
Sayyid Badreddin al-Houthi was a supporter of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, an advocate for Islamic unity, and a defender of the Palestinian cause. He authored numerous books, including al-Taysir fi al-tafsir. His works addressing Wahhabism have been compiled in the collection al-Silsilat al-dhahabiyya fi al-radd 'ala l-Wahhabiyya.
Place and Significance
Sayyid Badreddin al-Houthi, the spiritual leader of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, is considered a prominent religious authority within the Jarudiyya branch of Zaydi Islam. He has been described with titles such as 'Allama (knowledgeable scholar), Mujahid (striver), Mufassir (Quranic exegete), and Mujtahid (Islamic jurist).
Al-Houthi was a staunch advocate for Islamic unity. He actively opposed ideologies and beliefs contrary to Islam and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt. He authored numerous works in various fields of Islamic sciences and in refutation of Wahhabism.
Thoughts
Badreddin al-Houthi was deeply committed to the Palestinian issue and the struggle against the Israeli regime, believing in the necessity of supporting the oppressed. He endorsed the stance and actions of his son, Hussein, in confronting the United States through the adoption of the Sarkha (Cry) slogan and the boycott of American and Israeli goods.
Badreddin al-Houthi considered Islamic unity essential to confront the significant dangers facing Muslims. He also called for adopting an appropriate stance to counter the conspiracies of the United States and Israel.
Al-Houthi’s beliefs were considered close to those of Twelver Shiism. He regarded those enemies of Imam Ali (a) who were aware of his rightful position yet rose to fight against him as disbelievers.
Support for and Influence from Iran’s Islamic Revolution
Badreddin al-Houthi was a supporter of Iran’s Islamic Revolution. It is said that he celebrated Iran’s military successes in the Iran-Iraq War and internal conflicts by firing gunshots. The intellectual uprising of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, of which he is considered the spiritual father, is regarded as inspired by Iran’s Islamic Revolution. His policies, as well as those of his sons, have also been viewed as aligned with Iran’s policies.
Badreddin traveled to Iran in 1994 alongside his son Hussein. Some sources claim he returned to Yemen in 2002, while others state his stay in Iran lasted one year. Certain claims suggest that he and his son were influenced by Twelver Shiism during their time in Iran, leading some to label the Ansar Allah movement as a Twelver Shia movement. However, the Houthis have rejected this claim, emphasizing their adherence to Zaydi Islam.
Political Activities
Following the martyrdom of his son Hussein, Badreddin al-Houthi assumed leadership of the Ansar Allah movement. He collaborated with other Zaydi scholars to establish the Al-Haqq Party. Badreddin was a prominent member of this party but later parted ways due to internal disputes, subsequently founding the Shabab al-Mu’min Party (the Believing Youth).
Corruption, government inefficiency, and foreign interference, particularly by the United States, in Yemen, prompted Badreddin al-Houthi to urge his followers to resist the government. This confrontation escalated into armed conflict, forcing Badreddin to leave Yemen.
It is said that Badreddin survived multiple assassination attempts. During an attack targeting him in the village of Al-Kharb, several members of his family were killed. Additionally, an unsuccessful assassination attempt in 2005 sparked the second Houthi war with the Yemeni government, which ceased under the assumption that Badreddin had been killed.
Moral Characteristics
Scholars contemporary with Badreddin al-Houthi have spoken highly of him. Majd al-Din Mu’ayyadi described him as a practicing scholar, praising his intellectual contributions. Hussein ibn Hasan al-Houthi characterized him as embodying piety, asceticism, humility, and devotion, presenting him as a defender of the Ahl al-Bayt school. Additionally, according to 'Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, Badreddin had a deep connection with the Quran and was dedicated to it. This profound engagement with the Quran earned him the title Faqih al-Qur'an (Jurist of the Quran).
Works
Sayyid Badr al-Din al-Houthi authored numerous works, totaling nearly 100. In his book al-Taysir fi al-tafsir, he employed a method of Quranic exegesis that interprets the Quran through the Quran itself and relies on hadiths transmitted from Prophet Muhammad (s) and Imam Ali (a). In his work al-Majmu'at al-wafiyya fi l-fi'at al-baghiya, he examines the hadith concerning the killing of 'Ammar Yasir by the transgressing group.
He also authored several works on the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), including Fada'il Al Muhammad (Virtues of Muhammad’s Household), Ahadith mukhtara fi fada'il Ahl al-Bayt (a) (Selected hadiths on the virtues of Al al-Bayt (a)), Al Muhammad laysu kull al-umma (Muhammad’s Household is not the entire umma), and Ayat al-Mawadda. He also wrote books such as Man Hum al-Wahhabiyya (Who are Wahhabis?) and al-Ijaz fi al-radd 'ala fatawi al-Hijaz against Wahhabism. His works refuting Wahhabism have been published in the collection al-Silsilat al-dhahabiyya fi al-radd 'ala l-Wahhabiyya.
Life
Badreddin al-Houthi was born on 17 Jumada al-Awwal, 1345/ November 23, 1926 CE, in Dhahyan, Yemen, and was raised in Saada, the primary center of Zaydi Islam in Yemen. His lineage is traced back to Hasan al-Muthanna, the son of Imam al-Hasan (a). The Houthi family, residing in Saada, descends from Husayn b. Muhammad, who migrated from the city of Houth to Dhahyan.
Education
Badreddin al-Houthi pursued his education in Saada under the guidance of his father, Amir al-Din Husayn al-Houthi (d. 1394 /1974-5 CE), and his uncle, Hasan ibn Husayn al-Houthi (d. 1388/1968-9 CE). He also benefited from the teachings of 'Abd al-'aziz Ghalibi and Yahya b. Husayn al-Houthi. Badreddin received certifications of ijtihad from several scholars, whose names are listed in Miftah asanid al-Zaydiyya.
Death
Badreddin al-Houthi passed away in late 2010. The Houthis reported his cause of death as a respiratory illness. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for his death during an operation. However, some international media outlets rejected Al-Qaeda’s claim of assassination.
Children
According to some reports, Badreddin al-Houthi had four wives and was the father of seven daughters and thirteen sons. His sons were Hussein, Yahya, 'Abd al-Qadir, Muhammad, Ahmad, Hamid, Amir al-Din, Ibrahim, 'Abd al-Malik, Ali, 'Abd al-Khaliq, 'Abd al-Salam, and Najm al-Din. Hussein was the founder of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement. 'Abd al-Qadir and 'Ali were killed in battle, while Ibrahim died in an assassination incident. 'Abd al-Malik is the third leader of the Ansar Allah movement.
References
- The material for this article is mainly taken from بدرالدین الحوثی in Farsi WikiShia.