Analysis of the Cultural and Political Confrontation between the Mukhtariʿah and the Mutrafiyyah in Yemen

Author

Assistant Professor, Dar al-Hikmah Institute of Higher Education, History and Islamic Civilization, Qom, Iran

Abstract

The Zaydi sect has witnessed the emergence of various intellectual and political movements throughout its history. The interactions and confrontations among these movements—particularly between the Mukhtari‘ah and the Mutrafiyyah—played a decisive role in shaping the intellectual and historical developments of Yemeni Zaydism.The Mutrafiyyah was a theological-political movement within Yemeni Zaydism during the 5th and 6th centuries AH, known for its extreme rationalist tendencies and certain views that contradicted fundamental Zaydi principles. In contrast, the Mukhtari‘ah was the term applied to Zaydi scholars who defended tradition and opposed intellectual deviations. The aim of this study is to examine the methods and measures adopted by the leaders of Yemeni Zaydism in confronting the Mutrafiyyah movement. The main question of the research is: what approaches and strategies did the Zaydi Imams of Yemen employ to counter the Mutrafiyyah, and what effects and consequences did this confrontation have on the movement? The data for this study were collected through library and documentary research, utilizing classical theological and historical Zaydi sources as well as modern scholarly studies. The findings indicate that the Mutrafiyyah’s two-century effort to propagate its ideas in Yemen was met with firm resistance from the Zaydi Imams. Ultimately, the leading figures of the Mukhtari‘ah, through various cultural and political means, succeeded in suppressing and eliminating this deviant movement. This confrontation reflects the intellectual dynamism and evolution of Yemeni Zaydism, as well as its leaders’ steadfast commitment to the principles and teachings of the sect.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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  • Receive Date: 02 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 16 July 2025
  • Accept Date: 30 July 2025

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