Alawites (Syria): Difference between revisions

The majority of historians and authors of sects and creeds trace the origination of the Nusaryriyya back to the 3rd/9th centuries. It came to existence in [[Iraq]] in the period of [[Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]] or the [[Minor Occultation]]. The sect is attributed to [[Muhammad b. Nusayr]], a close companion of [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]], and according to other sources, a companion of [[Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]] as well.

According to sources of [[rijal]], Muhammad b. Nusayr exhibited deviations which led to his dismissal by Imam al-Hadi (a). The situation continued in the period of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a). His deviations in the period of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a) were mainly concerned with exaggerations about the [[Imams (a)]]. In the period of the [[Minor Occultation]], the founder of the Nusayriyya claimed that he was a [[Bab]] and a [[special deputy]] of [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]]. Thus, he claimed that [[Muhammad b. 'Uthman]] was the second of the [[Four Deputies]] of Imam al-Mahdi (a). This led to his dismissal by the close companions of the Imam (a). After the dismissal, Ibn Nusayr claimed the position of [[prophethood]] and then Godhood. He believed in [[reincarnation]] and exaggerated about Imam al-Hadi (a) claiming that the Imam (a) was God.

Ibn Nusayr was succeeded by [[Muhammad b. Jundab]]. There is no historical information about him. Ibn Jundab was succeeded by [[Muhammad Jinan Junbalani]] who later established the [[Sufi]] [[Tariqa]] of “Junbalaniyya”.

Junbalani went to [[Egypt]] where he met Husayn b. Hamdan al-Khusaybi and admitted him as a student. Thus, Junbalani was succeeded by al-Khusaybi in 287/900 in Iraq and became the head of the Alawites.

Al-Khusaybi migrated from Iraq to [[Aleppo]] and continued his mission in the period of Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani]]. Al-Khusaybi established the Nusayriyya in [[al-Sham]] by integrating the Nusayri doctrines into Sufism and by the support he received from the Hamdanid government, and in particular, the government of Sayf al-Dawla. Thus, he moved the Nusayriyya from Iraq to northern areas of al-Sham.