An introduction to the Zaidi sect

Praise be to God. God Almighty said: (And with truth We have sent it down, and with truth it has descended. And We have not sent you except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.) So the religion of truth is one, and whatever is other than it is not true. God Almighty described His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) by saying, “He enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong.” This means enjoining upon them what is right according to their innate understanding and forbidding them what is wrong according to their innate understanding. The Zaydi school of thought is built upon strong foundations: first, the innate understanding of reason; second, the clear verses of the Holy Quran; and third, the authentic and established hadiths among the various Muslim sects, including those whose authenticity and transmission are unanimously agreed upon or whose widespread transmission is established. This forms the basis of their religion and doctrine, and thus there is no place for superstition, extremism, or anything rejected by reason. As for hadiths that do not conform to these established principles, they cannot be relied upon in matters of creed, because what is required in matters of creed is the attainment of knowledge, faith, and firm belief. Hadiths that do not conform to these principles do not necessitate firm knowledge. This is our approach as Zaydis in our religion, and success comes from God alone.