4 E. C. Eoss — Tenets of the IMdhi Sect of 'Oman. [Jan. 



Imam, under the auspices of a priest, the Sheikh Ja'ad bin Khamis-el- 

 Kharusi. 



As a general rule, the Yemen tribes embraced the Ibadhi religion, whilst 

 those from Najd were more inclined to the orthodox sect. In recent times, 

 some of the latter have adopted the Wahhabi religion. The Imams of the 

 Ibadhiyeh were almost invariably selected from Yemen families. At the 

 present time the religions title is in abeyance. 



With regard to doctrine it is thought that the dissertation of the 

 Sheikh Sirhan may throw additional light on this part of the subject. 

 Perhaps the most important feature as regards their history is their rejection 

 of the Khalifates of 'Othman and 'All and then- assumption of the right to 

 elect then- own Imams, whom they entitle " Imams of the Moslems." 

 The so-elected Imam has had usually also political power.* 



A point much insisted on by Ibadhi teachers is, that the simple pro- 

 fession of belief cannot cover criminal conduct, and that sin, whether of 

 believer or infidel, is followed by punishment unless, in the case of the 

 former, he publicly repents of his sins. 



The discrepancies between theory and practice in the religious obser- 

 vances of this sect may have caused some misapprehension. Whilst many 

 professed Ibadhis exhibit considerable laxity and licence, still, when the 

 priests can have their will, they affect a puritan austerity and strictness, 

 and would, if they had the power, enforce then- views with great harshness. 

 In the matters of drinking of liquor, smoking, raiment, &c, the Ibadhi 

 Muttawas, or priests, have proved themselves, when they had the opportu- 

 nity, as bigoted and intolerant as their confreres of the Wahhabi sect. 



This refers to modern practice, but the founder .of the sect seems to 

 have aimed at rational reform according to his lights, and many of the 

 extreme and intolerant opinions of other sects have no place in that of 

 the Ibadhis ; such fictions as the journey of the Prophet to heaven are 

 rejected as merely figurative. On the whole the doctrines promulgated by 

 'Abdullah bin Ibadhi are characterized by a puritanic, but not wholly in- 

 tolerant spirit. 



E. C. Eoss, 

 May, 1872. Political Agent at Mas/cat. 



* The official residence of the " Imams" was at one of the following towns : 



Nezwa Rostaek or Sohar — at these towns only could they perform Friday's 

 devotional services. 



