Zaydiyya Sect and Their Views about Imamat and the Sahâba (Companions of the Prophet)

Zaydiyya is Shia's nearest branch to Ahl al-Sunnah and their views on the Sahâba were formed within the framework of the concept of imamat. Zaydis unanimously agree on Companions' commitment to Islam, and their faithful service to Islam during the time of the Prophet, and they also believe that Ali was the most virtuous of the Companions after the death of the Prophet. But then their views on the Sahâba formed parallel to their imam-at concept and the attitude of the Companions to caliph elections.In this context the Jarudites consider the caliphs before Ali as usurper and they accuse them and their followers of disbelief. They say ilm (religious knowledge) cannot be taken from them. They rely on descendant of Hasan and Hüseyin for religious knowledge. The Butriyya and Suleymaniyya in general consider the Sahâba good, and they say that religious knowledge can be taken from all Sahaba. The Zaydi Imams and scholars have two different attitudes toward the Sahâba: Some of them loved (tawalla) the Sahâba, some oth-er have remained silent about them. However, they exclude some people such as Muaviya b. Ebî Sufyân, Amr b. As, and Abû Musa al-Ash'arî from the Sahâba. They mention Abu Bakr and Omar as previous caliphs but they do not refer Othman. Contemporary Zay-di scholars also adopted a parallel position to the understanding of Zaydi Imams about the sahaba (Companions).