Way of thinking of Imam Mohammad bin Al- Mutahhar Al- Hasani in Al-Nasikh and Mansukh in holy Qur'an

Abstract

The emergence o f the Houthi movement under the guise o f the Zaidi sect in Yemen since the 1990s has become a major object o f interest in most media outlets where analyses are mixed and interpretations are varied between supporters and opponents. One o f the most prominent characteristics o f the Houthi movement is its rejection o f principal issues and the concept o f abrogation in the Quran. Hence, this research examines the thoughts o f one o f the Zaidi’s imams and their person o f reference, namely Muhammad ibn al-Mutahhar al-Zaidi, on principal issues and the issue o f abrogation in the Quran. In order to go back to classical sources and reject external ideas, this research includes the method outlined by Muhammad ibn al-Mutahhar al-Zaidi. The objective o f this study is to clarify and highlight the nature o f the Shite Zaidi thoughts regarding the principles o f abrogation in the Quran. The research firther aims to determine the closeness o f the Zaidi sect to Sunnism, taking into consideration Muhammad ibn al-Mutahhar al-Zaidi’s standing as a reference person in scholarly, jurisprudential, and intellectual matters for those who ascribe themselves to the Zaidi doctrine. A descriptive and comparative approach was employed to analyse the above mentioned book with views o f commentators, scholars o f jurisprudence and jurists. The research concluded that Mohammed ibn al-Mutahhar belonged to the school o f contemporary thoughts on the issue o f abrogation in Quran, alnasikh wal-mansukh, and his views are in line with the views held by the majority o f the Sunni scholars with slight differences. In reaching his conclusions, Ibn al- Mutahhar al-Zaydi relied on Sunni texts and references, which underscores the extent o f congruence between the Zaidi doctrine and the doctrine o f Ahl al Sunnah Wal Jamaah. In conclusion, the Houthi’s rejection regarding principles issues and the issue o f abrogation in the Quran is recent and has nothing to do with the Zaidi thoughts regarding these concerns. Hence, the Houthi claims to be part o f the Zaidi sect is disputable.