Ibadi Islam

Deviant

الإباضية

Overview

A moderate offshoot from the early Khawarij movement, founded by Abdullah ibn Ibad in 684 CE. Unlike the Khawarij, the Ibadis do not consider ordinary Muslim sinners to be kafir — they consider them 'ungrateful disbelievers' (kuffar ni'mah) rather than polytheists. They reject armed rebellion and accept peaceful coexistence. Concentrated today primarily in Oman, Zanzibar, and parts of Libya and Algeria. The Ibadi community in Oman is the world's most significant.

Key Beliefs

Derived from Khawarij but without the extreme takfir of ordinary Muslim sinners
Leaders (Imams) must be elected on merit, not dynastic succession
The Quran is created (adopting Mu'tazilah-adjacent position on this point)
Walayah (loyalty) to those who follow their positions; bara'ah (disassociation) from those who oppose

Scholarly Evaluation

Classified as deviant by Ahl us-Sunnah due to its Kharijite origins and retained heterodox positions. However, the Ibadis' moderation relative to classical Khawarij — rejecting takfir and armed rebellion — means most Ahl us-Sunnah scholars do not consider them fully outside the fold. Their position on the Quran being created, however, is a serious error shared with the Mu'tazilah.

Key Figures

Abdullah ibn Ibad al-Murri al-Tamimi (d. circa 708 CE)
Jabir ibn Zayd (d. 711 CE)

Sources

Al-Farq bayn al-Firaq (al-Baghdadi)
Maqalat al-Islamiyyin (al-Ash'ari)

Founder

Abdullah ibn Ibad al-Murri al-Tamimi

Founded

65h (684 CE)