2 [Jan. 



An Account of the Tenets of the IB AD HI Sect of "OMAN. 

 From a manuscript Arabic work entitled " The Keshf-ul-Ghummeh 

 of the Sheikh Sirhan bin Sa'id Sirhan bin Mohammed-el-' Alawi, a native of 

 'Oman," translated with prefatory Memorandum and Notes by E. C. Ross, 

 Political Agent, Muskat. 



Prefatory Remarks. 



A large proportion of the Arabs inhabiting 'Oman, indeed the majority, 

 belong to the sect of Muhammadans, called ' Ibadhi.' The origin, rise and 

 distinctive doctrines of this particular sect seem to have been little known 

 to European authors until very recent times. This is the more remarkable 

 that the form of religion has, since its adoption in 'Oman, in the highest 

 degree influenced the destiny of the people. From their peculiar opinions 

 regarding the succession of ' Imams' arose their form of Government under 

 a head at once endowed with spiritual and temporal authority. It is evi- 

 dent how desirable it is that the fullest possible light should be thrown on 

 this remarkable element in connection with the History of 'Oman. 



The only clear and correct account of this sect we owe to the Rever- 

 end G. P. Badger, who, in an appendix to his work* on 'Oman, has given 

 an account of the sect, and dispelled many erroneous ideas. 



Previous writers have touched on the subject, but either very cursorily, 

 or, where more fully, with a large admixture of fallacy. 



By Niebuhrf the sect is mentioned as that of " Beiasi," Beiadi or 

 Abadi, the " principal sect in 'Oman," but his notice of it is short and not 

 wholly correct. 



In Wilsted's Travels^ they are mentioned as " Khuwarajites," and the 

 following remark occurs : — 



" Their own Imam they regard in two points of view ; as a temporal 

 governor, and an absolute indefeasibly appointed sovereign, whose authority 

 is of God." 



The treatise on the Ibadhi tenets, a translation of which is now given, 

 is extracted from a manuscript work of a native of 'Oman, the Sheikh 

 Sirhan bin Said of the Beni 'Ali tribe. The work is entitled " Keshf-ul- 

 Ghummeh-el-Jamal akhbar-el-ummeh," and contains an account of several 

 Eastern nations, and amongst other things a valuable account of the history 

 of 'Oman. The author having been himself an 'Omani of the Ibadhi 

 persuasion, his account of the sect may be considered of value. It will be 

 found corroborative of the points described in Mr. Badger's exposition. § 



* History of the Imams and Sayyids of 'Oman, 1871. Hakluyt Society. 



t Niebuhr, Travels, Trans, p. 185, vol. 2. 



% Travels in Arabia, p. 329, vol. 1. 



§ Much of the matter is common to Mahommedanism generally. 



