Zaydism, Salifism, Reinterpretation, and Democracy
MM: This revival involved a great deal of soul-searching, inspired by a deep sense of peril arising from the increasing popularity of salafism in Yemen. Badr al-Din al-Huthi was at the heart of this revival. As long ago as 1979, he began to write rebuttals and refutations of anti-Shi’ah literature produced by salafis. He took a keen interest in refuting the intense anti-Zaydi writings of Yemen’s foremost and most outspoken salafi scholar, Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi’i (d. 2001). Wadi’i lived in Saudi Arabia for fifteen years, where he studied under a number of prominent salafi scholars, such as Nassir al-Din al-Albani, before he was deported to Yemen in the early 1980s for alleged links with the armed group that seized the Haram in Makkah in 1979. Upon his return to Yemen, he set about establishing salafi centres and madrasahs throughout northern Yemen, all with financial support from Saudi sources. His fiery anti-Shi’ah rhetoric reached its zenith with statements expressing an intent to destroy the tombs of the Zaydi imams and their domes in Yemen.
Mu’ayyidi and other prominent Zaydi ulama argued that conditions in Zaydi political doctrine that restrict legitimate rule to suitable learned descendants of the Prophet (saw) through Ali and Fatimah (ra) are valid under certain historical circumstances that are no longer present. In their re-articulation of the Zaydi principle of ri’aasah (leadership), Mu’ayydi and his associates regarded political leadership as a right vested in the community at large. As such, whoever the citizens elect becomes a legitimate ruler, regardless of whether or not he is a descendant of Ali and Fatimah (ra).
2004: Saleh: “I directly accuse foreign forces and this Houthi is just one element of the foreign forces.” He indicated that al-Houthi’s rebellion is “part if the foreign hirelings, rather than a thinking, sectarianism or a Zeidi sect.” He added it is a foreign intelligence act which harassed “development, investment and undermine national unity.” He said “Evidences have cleared out and will be announced to the public ” 2005: Still waiting for him to produce the evidence. I guess first he had to decide which foreign country to blame it on. He’s already accused the “Jews,” the Bahrainis, the Kuwaitis and now its the Iranians. But no evidence yet. Still waiting.
