St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (Apr 2025)
Zaydī Shīʿism
Abstract
Zaydī Shīʿism is a tradition of Islamic law and theology with deep historical roots in the Muslim world. This article provides a historical overview, beginning with Imām Zayd b. ʿAlī (d. 122/740), and then tracing the movement’s development in Iraq, northern Iran, and Yemen through to the nineteenth century. Special attention is given to Yemeni Zaydī scholars from the twelfth through to the fifteenth centuries who composed significant writings that continue to be studied by Zaydīs to this day. A brief summary of Zaydī theological positions, most of which align with the Muʿtazila schools of theology, is provided, including the identification of positions that distinguish Zaydīs from Sunnīs and Twelver Shī‘ites. The entry concludes with an introduction to the major Zaydī scholars of the twentieth century and to the Zaydī Ḥūthī movement that, arising in late 2001, has at the time of writing emerged as the strongest party in Yemen’s ongoing civil conflict.
