Shia Islam in Yemen
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Shia Islam inYemenis practiced by a substantial minority of thepopulation,[1]with the vast majority of Shia Muslims in Yemen beingZaydi,while a minority areTwelverandIsma'ili.[2]Sunni Muslimsmake up 65% percent of Yemen, while 35% of the country are Shia Muslims. These Shia Muslims are predominantly concentrated in the northwestern regions of the country, including the capital and major cities that are some of the most densely populated areas of Yemen.
Historically, the Zaydi Muslims ruled Yemen for a thousand years until 1962. During this time, they fiercely defended their independence, resisting foreign powers such as theUmayyads,Egypt, and theOttomans,who aimed to controlLower Yemenand expand their rule northward.[3]The Zaydi branch of Islam, known as the Fivers, is a sect almost exclusively prevalent in Yemen, making it a distinctive feature of thereligion in Yemen.[4]
Population
[edit]Religion in Yemen primarily consists of two majorIslamic branches.According to theCIA's World Factbook,[5]approximately 65% of the population practicesSunni Islam,while around 35% adhere toShia Islam.The vast majority of the Shia population are Zaydi, with minorities of Twelver and Isma'ili Shias.[6][7]Collectively, Yemeni Shias account for over two-quarters of the country's 25 million people.[8]
Zaydi Muslims are predominantly located in the north and northwest regions of Yemen, whileShafi'is,a Sunni sect, are prevalent in the south and southeast.[9]In addition to the Islamic population, Yemen is home to a small number of Christians, estimated to be around 3,000, as well as approximately 400 Jews.[10]
History
[edit]According to historical narrations, Islamic identities in Yemen have been categorized into two main Islamic orientations: ShiaZaydismand SunniShafi‘i.Also, small groups of ShiaIsmailisand some Jewish communities are seen in the country. The population density of Zaydis historically is placed in the north of Yemen, in Sa’dah, Amran, al-Jawf, Hajjah and Dhamar provinces, as well as Shafiism, is the dominant school of jurisprudence in lower Yemen the eastern part of the country and the Tihamah. However, it can not be said that Zaydies and shafei populations live in Separated regions. For instance, the Sa’dah region, is known as the residents of Zaydism but in some areas, notably al-Hishwah, al-Zahir, Shida and Ghamr, Sunnis make up a considerable part of the population.[11]
The Zaydis belong to a sect of Shia Islam that their generation reaches to eponym Zayd ibn Ali, the great-grandson ofAliShia first Imam and Zayd ibn Ali rebelled againstUmayyad governmentin 740 CE after death ofHusayn ibn AliatKarbala.As the life of first Zaydi Imam in Yemen, Yahya b. al-Husayn (d.911), he made efforts to establish his rule over the tribes in the north of Yemen.[11]
Houthi movement
[edit]According to Charles Schmitz, a professor atTowson University,the Houthis' origins harken back toAl-Shabab al-Muminin(the Believing Youth), a group active in the early 1990s. The Believing Youth concentrated on raising awareness about the Zaydi branch of Shia Islam, which had ruled Yemen for centuries. However after theNorth Yemen Civil Warin the 1960s, they were suppressed by the Yemeni government. Out of them became Yemen's Shia minority, containing 25% of the country's Muslims.[12]
Similar toSunni Muslimsin matters of religious law and rulings, the Houthi believe in the concept of anImamateas being essential to their religion, making them distinct fromSunni Muslims.[13]
TheHouthi movement,which belongs to Yemen's Zaydi Muslim community and that fought a series of rebellions againstAli Abdullah Salehduring the last decade, took control of its northern heartland aroundSaada provinceand its nearby areas.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Yemen",The World Factbook,Central Intelligence Agency, 2023-10-03,retrieved2023-10-08
- ^Al-Deen, Maysaa Shuja (June 7, 2021)."Yemen's War-torn Rivalries for Religious Education".Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.RetrievedOctober 7,2023.
- ^"Yemen: The conflict in Saada Governorate – analysis".IRIN. 24 July 2008.Retrieved29 November2014.
- ^Al-Shamahi, Abubakr (7 February 2014)."Yemen is more nuanced than 'Sunni' & 'Shia'".Yemen Times.Archivedfrom the original on 2 January 2015.
- ^"Yemen",The World Factbook,Central Intelligence Agency, 2023-10-03,retrieved2023-10-08
- ^"Yemen: The conflict in Saada Governorate – analysis".UN High Commissioner for Refugees. 24 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-20.Retrieved2 January2014.
- ^Al-Zaidi, Hassan (22 October 2007)."The Twelve-Imam Shiite Sect".Yemen Times.Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2007.
- ^BASU, TANYA (9 April 2015)."Who Are the Houthis?".The Atlantic.Retrieved9 April2015.
- ^Background note: Yemen.US Department of State (December 2007).
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^"About this Collection | Country Studies | Digital Collections | Library of Congress".Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.Retrieved2023-10-07.
- ^abBrandt, Marieke (2017).Tribes and Politics in Yemen: A History of the Houthi Conflict.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0190673598.Retrieved15 November2017.
- ^Taylor, Adam."Who are the Houthis, the group that just toppled Yemen's government?".The Washington Post.Retrieved22 January2015.
- ^Pike, John."Zaydi Islam".Retrieved2 September2014.
- ^"Yemen crisis: Why is there a war?".BBC.Retrieved20 November2018.
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