The Zaydi creed of Imam al-Mutawakill and the Suni Creed of Adud al- Din- Iji

The Zaydi creed of Imam al-Mutawakill and the Suni Creed of Adud al- Din- Iji

The Zaydi creed of Imam al-Mutawakill and the Suni Creed of Adud al- Din- Iji has some significant differences. Even though the two creeds originate from two different spectrums of the Muslim religion, both creeds have some similarities in them. This essay sets out to compare and contrast the Zaydi creed of Imam al-Mutawakill and the Suni Creed of Adud al-Din- Iji. Generally, both creeds of Islam give general beliefs and instructions on how a Muslim must act and how powerful God is. The Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill and the Suni creed of Adud al- Din- Iji portrays attributes about God. Both creeds also cover vital topics in the Islam religion.

The first similarity between the Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill and the Suni Creed of Adud al- Din- Iji is that there is recognition of God and his characteristics. The first attribute of God that both creeds portray about God is that God is sovereign and his perfection. The Suni creed states that God has no rival, no partner, no similar, and no helper (Watt). Similarly, the Zaydi creed says that there no other God like Him. The Zaydi creed further states that God is the mighty, the wise, the self-sufficient, the seeing, and the praised one.

The second similarity between the Suni Creed of Adud al-Din-Iji and the Zaydi creed of Imam-al-Mutawakill is the mention of the Qur’an. The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam. The Zaydi creed presents the Qur’an as incomparable, and no one can introduce a book that is similar to it. The Zaydi creed further states that it is God who made the Qur’an as a warning to whoever receives it. Likewise, the Suni creed says that the Qur’an is the speech of God (Watt). It continues and adds that the Qur’an is written in copies, recited through tongues, and remembered by breasts.

Thirdly, both creeds recognize the existence of Hell. Both creeds identify Hell as punishment for those who do not believe. The Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill writes about Hellfire. Imam al-  Mutawakill writes that anyone who disobeys the laws of God will receive a judgment of Hellfire. The creed further annexes that whomever God condemns in the Hellfire will be there eternally, and they will not get out of the Hellfire. The Suni Creed of Adud al- Din- Iji describes Hell to be an everlasting place for the unbelievers. Adud al- Din- Iji adds on to state that Hell is a creation of God that already exists.

Another similarity visible in the creeds is the aspect of a reward for the believers. The Suni Creed refers to the prize as an entry to paradise. Adud al- Din- Iji opines in the Suni creed that entrance to paradise is guaranteed if a believer takes a pledge of the creed. Adud al- Din- Iji also adds that entry to paradise is promised for anyone who merely fought the battle of Badr (Watt). Just like Hell, the Suni creed states that paradise is a creation of God. Similarly, the Zaydi refers to the reward as entry to the garden. Imam al- Mutawakill says that the garden is for the believers who fear God.

A further similarity seen in the two creeds is the way both Adud al- Din- Iji and Imam al – Mutawakill refer to Prophet Muhammad. In both creeds, the creed refers to the Prophet Muhammad as the seal of prophets. In the Suni creed of Adud al- Din- Iji, the creed states, “The sending of messengers (by God), from Adam to our Prophet, with evidentiary-miracles (to confirm their claims] is a reality. Muhammad is the seal of the prophets; there is no prophet after him. The prophets are preserved from sin; they are superior to the higher angels, and the generality of men are superior to the generality of angels.” Likewise, the Zaydi creed states that “Muḥammad (May God shower him and his family with blessings and greetings of peace) is the seal of the prophets.”

The two creeds also contain significant differences. The first difference is seen in the details about the punishment of unbelievers. The Suni Creed of Adud al- Din- Iji asserts that a Muslim, who has committed an eminent sin, does not stay in Hell forever. After spending some time in Hell, the Muslim finally goes to paradise (Watt). On the other hand, The Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill states that anyone who God punishes to Hellfire will be in Hellfire forever. He further adds that anyone who is condemned to Hellfire will not emerge from the fire.

Another significant difference between the two creeds is in the mention of the prophets. In the Suni Creed of Adud, al- Din- Iji, there is no mention of prophets. The Suni Creed –only mentions messengers sent by God from Adam to Prophet Muhammad. Prophet Muhammad is the only one mentioned in the creed to be the seal of all prophets (Watt). On the other hand, The Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill, there is the mention of other prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The creed states that the Islam religion was legislated to Muhammad and designated to the other prophets.

An additional difference that sets apart the Zaydi creed and the Suni creed is in the description of Hell. Hell is more emphasized in the Zaydi creed than in the Suni creed. The Zaydi creed gives vivid, explicit, and descriptive details about what Hell looks like for the unbelievers and for those who do not repent. Imam al-Mutawakill writes that, “Whoever transgresses the boundaries (or laws) God established will be in the punishment of the Hellfire forever. Whoever God puts in the Hellfire will be there eternally, and they will not emerge from the fire.” On the other hand, the Suni Creed of Adud, al- Din- Iji says little about Hell (Watt). It only states that Hell is for the unbeliever.

The Suni creed of Adud al- Din- Iji has a topic on the resurrection, unlike in the Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill. The Suni creed emphasizes the truth about return to life. The creed states that “The return (to life) is a reality; the bodies will be gathered to- gather, and the spirits will be restored to them, and in this (state), there will be the requital and the settling of accounts. The Bridge (or Path) is a reality; the Balance is a reality and the creation [already) of Paradise and Hell (Watts). The Zaydi creed does not have any topic on the resurrection.

Another topic found on the Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill is the topic of faith. The Zaydi creed defines faith. The Zaydi creed annexes that Faith is the belief in the heart, speech of the tongue, and action by the limbs.  It increases and decreases.  As for those who believe, [each new sūra] has increased them in faith.” The Suni creed of Adud al- Din- Iji does not talk about what faith entails. The creed, however, states that unbelief is a lack of faith and that unbelievers are people who have denied the Maker.

The other notable topic that is the Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill is the issue of political authority. The Zaydi creed annexes that God restricts political power to the believers. The creed asserts that the statement of God in the Qur’an, “Your guardian can be only God, and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the alms tax while bowing down (in prayer).” The creed further states that political authority is Imāmate, and God describes it as paying taxes while bowing down, and no one did this apart from the Commander of the Faithful. The Suni creed does not state anything on political authority.

One more example of a topic that is only on one of the creed is the Imāms that came after the Prophet. The Suni creed of Adud al- Din- Iji gives the names of the Imāms in order. The creed annexes that the Imām who came after the Prophet was Abu-Bakr al-Siddiq. The creed further states that his Imamate was through consensus since the Messenger of God did not nominate anyone. After Abu-Bakr al-Siddiq, was ‘Uthmm Dha Niirayn, then followed by ‘Ah al-Murtah. The Zaydi creed does not talk about the Imams.

In conclusion, the Suni creed of Adud al- Din- Iji and the Zaydi creed of Imam al- Mutawakill are mostly similar in the content, especially in their definition about the idiosyncrasy of God. The two creeds both set out God to be supreme, and no other god is like him. The two creeds do not have many differences. However, the differences are only in their definitions. For example, the Suni creed defines heaven as paradise, whereas the Zaydi creed defines heaven as the garden. The two creeds affluently set out rules to be followed by Muslims without contradicting each other.