1873.] E. C. Boss— Tenets of the lbadhi Sect of 'Oman. 



The sect was founded by 'Abdullah ben Ibadh, and its denomination is 

 derived from the surname of the founder who was descended from the 

 parent of the Tamim tribe.* 



Mr. Badger corrects the mistaken notion of this sect taking their 

 name from the Arabic word meaning " white," or " pure," which was very 

 generally entertained. Whether the patronymic was originally derived from 

 the root verb, signifying " to be white," or not, matters little, but that a 

 notion of whiteness attached to the name of the tribe Beni lbadhi is gathered 

 from an oldf couplet in the Kamus emoted by Mr. Lane. 



'Abdidlah bin lbadhi was a man of learning, and apparently a sincere 

 reformer. His doctrines were based on those of the Kharijites, or Seceders 

 which he wished to free from extravagant and irrational errors. Still many 

 essential points are retained, such as the doctrines concerning Imams or 

 spiritual leaders. 



In so far the Ibadhis may be reckoned reformed Kharijites, but the 

 latter term, though applied to them by the orthodox, would by no means 

 be admitted by themselves. 



The commentary of the Koran in use amongst the priests of the 

 Ibadhiyeh is that of Zamakhshari who was of the Mu'tazili sect of Khari- 

 jites. 



Four sub-divisions of the lbadhi sect are mentioned in a work emoted 

 by Mr. Badger, (The Kitab-el-Milal), but these no longer exist ; the sub- 

 jects having become united in the time of Sayyid Sa'id bin Ahmad, the 



* Pedigree. 

 Tamim. 

 Zeid Menat. 

 Sa'ad-el-Fizr. 

 Ka'ab. 

 'Am'r. 



El-'Harith [Tribe Mukais.] 

 Sarim. 

 Morra. 

 E'Nazzal. 

 Obadh. 

 El-Housein. 

 M'oawia. 

 Kais. 



El-'Ahnaf. 

 Tha'labeh. 

 Tey'm-el-lat. 

 Ibadh.. 

 Ab'd Allah. 



t Jariyatun fi diriiha el fadhfadhi— Abyadhu mm Ukhti beni lbadhi. 

 A damsel in her ample shift— whiter than the sister of the tribe Benu Ibadh 



From ' Genealogische Tabellen' of Dr. 

 Wiistenfeld. 



