[Slonopotam845]

As-salamu ´alaykum,

I don't think one can compare Biblical scholarship and history with Islamic. However, the earlier in recording must not always be more authentic, such as the Sahih of Imam Bukhari being more reliable than some of the earlier collections of hadith. But again, there are many details which differentiates them and comparisons may therefore be inadequate.

As for the Zaydiyya being the earliest group of Shi´a, this is not necessarily so, if we are to be unbiased. Rather different opinions and understandings came up and developed throughout early Islamic history, which later codified into more uniform schools. As for the Zaydiyya, historically there has been different sub-groups and understandings within their fold, and they have had slightly different views on certain things.

To simplify things, I would say that the Zaydiyya have three types of Imamate:

1) The one who does Jihad by the sword to establish justice (shari´ah), and is a Mujtahid Imam.
2) The one who is only a Mujtahid Imam.
3) The one who does Jihad by the sword to establish justice, but he is not a Mujtahid Imam or Scholar.

Imams Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn fall under the first category, Zayn al-Abidin under the second, Imam Zayd under the first and so on...
The Zaydiyya still accept Imam Muhammad al-Baqir and al-Sadiq as Imams of the second category, and quote them for substantiation of rulings pertaining to the Shari´ah.

Was Imam Ali (ra) appointed explicitly by the Prophet (salla'Llahu ´alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam)? Again, there is a difference of opinion amongst the Zaydiyya, as there is in regards to how they view the earlier Khulafa etc. But some of them have and continue to love and honor all the Khulafa al-Rashidin.

As for the "Zaydi Fiqh", well there has been different groups and Imams, and they have made their own Ijtihad. An important principle in their school has been the Ijma´of Ahl al-Bayt. Most of their opinions will be found within the Four Schools... Not necessarily as the mu´tamad, but within their boundaries. The Hadawiyya (and they are basically the only existant Zaydis today) are close to the Hanafis, differing on some issues, often agreeing with the Ithna ´Ashariyya.

I do believe that they represent closest the early Shi´i movement(s), and a major different between them and the Ithna ´Ashariyya is the fact that their entire madhhab was made up of Imams from the Household, while the Ithna ´Ashariyya was codified and built on non-Ahlul Bayt scholars, such as Kulayni, Ibn Babawayh, Tusi, Mufid etc.


wa'Llahu a'lam