The title emerged in the early caliphates, and can be traced to at least c. 715.[1] The title itself is ambiguous, as the term walī can mean both 'possessor of' or 'successor to', and the exact scope of ʿahd, 'covenant, testament', is left unclear: it can be interpreted as the covenant of God with humanity as a whole, of the previous caliph, or of the Muslim community.[2] The Umayyad caliphs (661–750) certainly favoured a more absolutist interpretation, by which they claimed a mandate deriving directly from God, via their position as heirs to Muhammad. By the 740s, the term walī ʿahd al-muslimīn (ولي عهد المسلمين, lit.'successor to the covenant of the Muslims'), or even the variant walī ʿahd al-muslimīn wa'l muslimāt ('successor to the covenant of the Muslim men and Muslim women') appears in use, either in the sense of the Muslim community pledging allegiance (bayʿa) to the heir-designate, or the heir being the successor to the covenant with the Muslim community.[3] The term was established as the usual title of the caliphal heir-apparent by the time of the first Abbasid caliphs (750–1258).[4]
Practice of designation
The origin of the practice has pre-Islamic roots, among the choice of successor in the Arab tribes. In the Islamic period, this ancient practice was given new legitimacy when the first caliph, Abu Bakr, nominated his successor, Caliph Umar. Umar in turn later nominated a group of prominent Muslims to choose one of their number as his successor.[4] The choice of heir was set on a hereditary basis by the first Umayyad caliph, Mu'awiya I, who chose his own son, Yazid I. The hereditary principle prevailed thereafter, although sometimes a brother could be chosen instead, or multiple sons be nominated as first and second heir; though usually the latter practice led to succession disputes.[4] In Sunni jurisprudence, the choice of successor and the act of designation is the absolute prerogative of the caliph or ruler; the oath of allegiance offered to the new heir confirmed his status, but was not a prerequisite for his legitimacy.[4]
This designation was made manifest through a testament (ʿahd). In the Umayyad period, this was a relatively informal matter, and often the designation of an heir-apparent was made public only after the incumbent caliph's death.[4] In the Abbasid period, this became a formalized and increasingly elaborate affair, deserving of a special ceremony, in which the new heir-designate also received the pledge of allegiance from the assembled court.[4] After that, he received his own insignia and a regnal name, by which he was named in the Friday prayer, on banners and on coinage, alongside the caliph.[4] If still underage, the heir-designate received a tutor, and he was later sent to govern a province in order to gain experience.[4] In the early Abbasid period, heirs served as regents during the caliphs' absence from Baghdad.[4]
Later usage
The title was used by several medieval Islamic states, such as the Fatimid Caliphate, the Seljuk Empire, the Buyid dynasty, Mamluk Egypt, and in al-Andalus.[4] Uniquely, in 1013 the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim, who also combined in his person the position of imam of the Isma'ili branch of Islam, separated his succession in two: his cousin Abd al-Rahim ibn Ilyas was designated walī ʿahd al-muslimīn and heir to the caliphate, while another cousin, Abu Hashim al-Abbas ibn Shu'ayb, was designated heir to the Isma'ili imamate, with the title of walī ʿahd al-muʾminīn, 'successor to the covenant of the faithful', thereby separating the government of the Fatimid state from the hitherto state religion of Isma'ilism.[5] Following al-Hakim's murder in 1021, both heirs were sidelined and the succession to both offices united in the person of al-Hakim's son, al-Zahir.[6]
Halm, Heinz (2003). Die Kalifen von Kairo: Die Fāṭimiden in Ägypten, 973–1074 [The Caliphs of Cairo: The Fatimids in Egypt, 973–1074] (in German). Munich: C. H. Beck. ISBN3-406-48654-1.
Marsham, Andrew (2009). Rituals of Islamic Monarchy: Accession and Succession in the First Muslim Empire. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN978-0-7486-2512-3.
March 24, 2023
wali, arabic, ولي, العهد, romanized, walī, ʿahd, arabic, islamic, term, designated, heir, ruler, crown, prince, silver, dirham, minted, isfahan, citing, caliph, ridha, heir, apparent, wali, muslimin, contents, origin, title, practice, designation, later, usage. Wali al Ahd Arabic ولي العهد romanized Wali al ʿAhd is the Arabic and Islamic term for a designated heir of a ruler or crown prince Silver dirham minted at Isfahan in 817 CE citing al Ma mun as caliph and Ali al Ridha as heir apparent wali ahd al muslimin Contents 1 Origin of the title 2 Practice of designation 3 Later usage 4 See also 5 References 6 SourcesOrigin of the title EditThe title emerged in the early caliphates and can be traced to at least c 715 1 The title itself is ambiguous as the term wali can mean both possessor of or successor to and the exact scope of ʿahd covenant testament is left unclear it can be interpreted as the covenant of God with humanity as a whole of the previous caliph or of the Muslim community 2 The Umayyad caliphs 661 750 certainly favoured a more absolutist interpretation by which they claimed a mandate deriving directly from God via their position as heirs to Muhammad By the 740s the term wali ʿahd al muslimin ولي عهد المسلمين lit successor to the covenant of the Muslims or even the variant wali ʿahd al muslimin wa l muslimat successor to the covenant of the Muslim men and Muslim women appears in use either in the sense of the Muslim community pledging allegiance bayʿa to the heir designate or the heir being the successor to the covenant with the Muslim community 3 The term was established as the usual title of the caliphal heir apparent by the time of the first Abbasid caliphs 750 1258 4 Practice of designation EditThe origin of the practice has pre Islamic roots among the choice of successor in the Arab tribes In the Islamic period this ancient practice was given new legitimacy when the first caliph Abu Bakr nominated his successor Caliph Umar Umar in turn later nominated a group of prominent Muslims to choose one of their number as his successor 4 The choice of heir was set on a hereditary basis by the first Umayyad caliph Mu awiya I who chose his own son Yazid I The hereditary principle prevailed thereafter although sometimes a brother could be chosen instead or multiple sons be nominated as first and second heir though usually the latter practice led to succession disputes 4 In Sunni jurisprudence the choice of successor and the act of designation is the absolute prerogative of the caliph or ruler the oath of allegiance offered to the new heir confirmed his status but was not a prerequisite for his legitimacy 4 This designation was made manifest through a testament ʿahd In the Umayyad period this was a relatively informal matter and often the designation of an heir apparent was made public only after the incumbent caliph s death 4 In the Abbasid period this became a formalized and increasingly elaborate affair deserving of a special ceremony in which the new heir designate also received the pledge of allegiance from the assembled court 4 After that he received his own insignia and a regnal name by which he was named in the Friday prayer on banners and on coinage alongside the caliph 4 If still underage the heir designate received a tutor and he was later sent to govern a province in order to gain experience 4 In the early Abbasid period heirs served as regents during the caliphs absence from Baghdad 4 Later usage EditThe title was used by several medieval Islamic states such as the Fatimid Caliphate the Seljuk Empire the Buyid dynasty Mamluk Egypt and in al Andalus 4 Uniquely in 1013 the Fatimid caliph al Hakim who also combined in his person the position of imam of the Isma ili branch of Islam separated his succession in two his cousin Abd al Rahim ibn Ilyas was designated wali ʿahd al muslimin and heir to the caliphate while another cousin Abu Hashim al Abbas ibn Shu ayb was designated heir to the Isma ili imamate with the title of wali ʿahd al muʾminin successor to the covenant of the faithful thereby separating the government of the Fatimid state from the hitherto state religion of Isma ilism 5 Following al Hakim s murder in 1021 both heirs were sidelined and the succession to both offices united in the person of al Hakim s son al Zahir 6 In modern times the term has been revived for the crown princes of several states such as the Qajar and Pahlavi Iran Saudi Arabia Jordan Qatar and Bahrein 4 See also EditCrown prince SehzadeReferences Edit Marsham 2009 p 114 Marsham 2009 pp 114 115 Marsham 2009 pp 115 116 a b c d e f g h i j k Ayalon 2002 p 126 Halm 2003 pp 279 281 Halm 2003 pp 307 309 Sources EditAyalon A 2002 Wali al ʿAhd In Bearman P J Bianquis Th Bosworth C E van Donzel E amp Heinrichs W P eds The Encyclopaedia of Islam Second Edition Volume XI W Z Leiden E J Brill pp 125 126 ISBN 978 90 04 12756 2 Halm Heinz 2003 Die Kalifen von Kairo Die Faṭimiden in Agypten 973 1074 The Caliphs of Cairo The Fatimids in Egypt 973 1074 in German Munich C H Beck ISBN 3 406 48654 1 Marsham Andrew 2009 Rituals of Islamic Monarchy Accession and Succession in the First Muslim Empire Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press ISBN 978 0 7486 2512 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wali al Ahd amp oldid 1145498728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
