The Ibadi Schism That Forged Oman's Identity

In Episode 60 of The Story of Oman, Lucas and Luna explore a pivotal but often-overlooked turning point in Omani history: the 7th-century schism that gave rise to Ibadism, the distinct branch of Islam that shaped Oman's political and religious identity for over a millennium. They trace the story from the early conflict between Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiyah, through the emergence of the Muhakkima and the founder Abdullah ibn Ibadh, to the establishment of the first Ibadi imamate in Oman under al-Julanda ibn Mas'ud. The episode examines how Ibadi theology — with its emphasis on electing the most qualified imam and rejecting hereditary rule — clashed with the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, leading to centuries of rebellion and autonomy in the interior. Lucas explains the core Ibadi doctrine of 'dissociation' from unjust rulers and the concept of 'manifest imamate' versus 'defensive imamate.' The conversation also touches on the legacy of the Ibadi community outside Oman, including in Zanzibar and North Africa, and how the schism still influences Omani governance today under Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. A donation segment around the 25% mark ties the episode's theme of preserving a distinctive tradition to the show's mission of ad-free, independent history. #Ibadi #Oman #IslamicSchism #AbdullahIbnIbadh #AlJulanda #Imamate #Umayyad #Abbasid #Kharijite #OmaniHistory #MiddleEastHistory #IslamicSects #SultanHaitham #Zanzibar #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #ReligiousHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo