Zaidiyyah

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/zaidiyyah

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the originating century?Early 8th century CE
2. What is the primary historical center?Yemen
3. How does a Zaydi Imam become a leader?A Zaydi Imam must be a descendant of Ali and Fatimah, show deep knowledge of the Quran and other Islamic teachings, and be brave in fighting injustice. The community chooses the Imam based on these qualities.
4. Why do Zaidiyyah people care about justice?Zaidiyyah believes that leaders should protect the oppressed and make society fair. This idea has helped them fight against unfair rulers and work for social change.

Imamate: The doctrine of divinely guided leadership in Shia Islam, emphasizing qualified and courageous descendants of Ali.
Ijtihad: The independent legal reasoning and interpretation of Islamic texts by qualified scholars, a principle emphasized in Zaidiyyah.
Hadith: Reports or traditions concerning the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad, a crucial source for Islamic law and theology.
Shia Islam: One of the two major branches of Islam, distinguished by its belief in Ali ibn Abi Talib as the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad.