Zaydiyya: Difference between revisions

Zaydis established independent dynasties in North Africa, Tabaristan, and Yemen.

As explained above, the [[Idrisid dynasty]] was the first Zaydi dynasty in Morocco, established in 172/788-9 by Idris b. 'Abd Allah b. al-Hasan b. al-Hasan b. Ali (a), the brother of Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya.

The Idrisid rule in Morocco lasted as an independent dynasty until 305/917-8, when the [[Fatimid dynasty]] appeared in Egypt and so the Idrisids had no choice but to accept their rule. Thus, the Idrisids ruled in Fas under the authority of the Fatimids until 375/985-6. Afterwards, the Idrisid dynasty came to an end, and consequently the Zaydiyya gradually disappeared from North Africa.

Zaydi rule in Yemen was first established by Yahya b. al-Husayn b. Qasim al-Rassi, a descendant of Imam al-Hasan (a), also called al-Hadi ila al-Haqq, in 284/897. He made Saadah his capital and Zaydism the state religion in Yemen.

* From the time of al-Hadi ila al-Haqq in 284/897 until the second half of the fourth century AH at the time of al-Mansur bi Allah, al-Qasim b. Ali al-Iyani, a descendant of al-Qasim al-Rassi. This period came to an end by the beginning of the fifth century AH when Isma'ili Sulayhids repeatedly defeated Zaydi Imams, resulting in a period of decline which lasted until the end of the sixth century AH.