Al-Ahbash

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Lebanon
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Al-Ahbash is a religious sect and political party in Lebanon; alternative names are: The Ahbash, Habashis, al Habashiyyin, and Jam'iyyat al- Mashari' al-Khayriyya al-Islamiyya (in English, Association of Islamic Charitable Projects - AICP).

It follows the teachings of Shaykh Abdullah Al-Harari (Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Harari al-Shibi al-Abdari), also known as al-Habashiyy ("the Ethiopian" and cognate to Habesha), an interpretation of Islam combining elements of Sunni and Shi'a [1][2] theology with Sufism. It advocates pluralism, and opposition to political activism and violence (its slogan is "the resounding voice of moderation"). It also promotes its beliefs internationally through a major Web presence and regional offices, notably in the United States.

It is highly controversial within Islam for its religious stance (anti-Salafi, and with Sufi and other beliefs seen as heretical [3][4]) and its political alliances (pro-Syria and conciliatory toward the West).

[edit] See also

Politics of Lebanon

[edit] References

A Sufi response to political islamism: Al-ahbash of Lebanon A. Nizar Hamzeh and R. Hrair Dekmejian, International Journal of Middle East Studies 28 (1996), 217-229.