Oman: Ibadhi Muslims

"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see." -Martin Luther King, Jr.


When Americans think of the Middle East, Oman is not usually one of the countries they picture. Instead, we might picture Iraq or Iran or Afghanistan; probably because those are the countries that the media most often portrays. But when we look at Iraq or Iran or Afghanistan, we see religious turmoil and strife and fighting between Muslims that we don't see in Oman. Why is that? I would suggest that one of the many varied reasons is because the dominating form of Islam in Oman is Ibadhi Islam. Ibadhi Islam developed out of the seventh-century Islamic sect known as the Khawarij, and shares with that group the desire to found a righteous Muslim society and the belief that true Muslims are only to be found in their own sect. However, unlike the Khawarij who believe that all Muslims who committed a grave sin without repentance are as guilty as unbelievers and merits the capital punishment deserved by all apostates of the faith, Ibadhis see such people as monotheists who are ungrateful for the blessings God has bestown upon them. So instead of practicing outright hostility to other Muslims, they practice dissasociation (or rather, the internal attitude of withholding, namely one's friendship or acceptance). According to the Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Illinois, "British observers of Omani rule commented that Ibadis are the least fanatic and sectarian of all Muslims, and openly associate with people of all faiths and pray together with Sunni Muslims. Hostile action is reserved for one type of person: the unjust ruler who refuses to mend his ways or relinquish his power." The fighting that is occuring between Muslims in the part of the Middle Eastern world that we normally hear about is between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. Their beliefs are not the same as Ibadhi Muslims, thus the country of Oman reflects a different attitude. As we look at Oman this month and pray for the Christians there, let's also thank God for the stability of the country and pray that Christians would have a chance to openly share their faith and God's love with the people of Oman.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Oman

Basic Info: Oman is slightly smaller than Kansas and has a strategic location on the Arabian Peninsula adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital transit point for world crude oil. Oman has a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on oil. However, oil reserves have been declining, so the country has been actively pursuing ways to diversify, industrialize, and privatize, with the goal of reducing the country’s dependency on oil to only 9% by 2020. Part of that plan is a switch to a focus on tourism and gas based industries. The country was affected by the global financial crisis. Their budget surplus was reduced for 2009 and investment and development projects slowed. About 72% of the population is urban. Just like many of the smaller countries on the Arabian Peninsula, most of the labor force is made up of non-nationals; for Oman about 60% of the workers are foreigners.

Government: Oman is a monarchy and is the oldest independent state in the Arab world and has been its own sovereign entity since 1650 when the Portuguese were expelled. The country has a long history of friendship with Britain. In the late 18th century, the sultanate signed the first in a series of treaties. While Oman’s dependence on British political and military advise increased over the next two centuries, it never became a British colony. The country did not truly open up however until 1970 when Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and repealed his father’s oppressive social, economic, and diplomatic policies. He also suppressed a communist uprising in the interior. He has ruled as Sultan ever since. He implemented an extensive modernization program that opened up the country and preserved its friendship with Britain. On November 6, 1996, Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree instituting a basic law that is considered by the government to be a constitution. The law clarified royal succession, instituted a prime minister, bared ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, established a bicameral legislature, and guaranteed basic civil liberties for Omani citizens. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has also sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

Religion: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Other (including Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%
Islam is the state religion of Oman and its legislation is based on English common law and Islamic Shari’a law, with the ultimate appeal being to the sultan. Sultan Qaboos’ political and social reforms in 1996 included a ban on discrimination on the basis of sex, ethnicity, religion, and social class. It also guarantees freedom of expression and assembly. However, not all of these reforms have been fully enacted. Religious groups are required to register before they can legally join together or obtain places of worship. Non-Muslims have not been allowed to legally hold religious meetings in private homes since 2006. Although sharing the gospel with Muslims is not illegal, it is strongly discouraged and the government will sometimes pressure those who do evangelize. However, Muslims are permitted to evangelize to non-Muslims. Freedom of expression is very limited in Oman as the state controls all media and government approval is required for all public assemblies. The future of Oman‘s reforms and moderate policies remain uncertain since Qaboos is advancing in age and has no sons to succeed him.

The Pact of Umar (Regarding the history of Islam, a pact set down by the second Caliph, Umar, who conquered Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Persia, and Jerusalem)

America as an open and free society, offers freedom of religion and encourages the free expression of worship and witness, even of those religions we do not agree with. Islamic countries however, follow the principle that other faiths must be given no encouragement or opportunity to share their beliefs. This principle can be traced back to the seventh century after a swift increase in Muslim expansion. It is known as the Pact of Umar. The Pact of Umar states that Christians

“shall not build, in our cities or in their neighborhood, new monasteries, Churches, convents, or monk’s cells, nor shall [they] repair, by day or by night, such of them as fall in ruins or are situated in the quarters of Muslims”;
“shall not manifest religion publicly not convert anyone to it…[Christians] shall not prevent any of [their] kin from entering Islam if they wish it”;
“shall show respect toward the Muslims, and shall rise from their seats when [Muslims] wish to sit”;
“shall not display crosses or books in the roads or markets of the Muslims…[They] shall use only clappers in churches very softly.”

All minorities, especially Christians and Jews, were known as “Dhimmis” or protected people. Instead of being killed as part of jihad, they were given the rights of second class citizens and paid an extra tax. Their lives were spared and they were allowed to continue in their faith, but that faith was strictly controlled. The above pact may be from the seventh century, but this mentality is still held in many modern day Muslim nations. Here are a few examples. The country of Turkey has consistently denied permission to develop theological education or buildings for the Eastern Orthodox Church. Between 1905 and 1918, 2 million Armenian Christians were slaughter by the Ottomans, and as recently as 1994 and 1996, explosives were used in attacks against the Christian church. Morocco allows freedom of worship, but evangelizing is forbidden. Passing out Christian literature can result in a three year prison sentence and not participating in Ramadan can result in imprisonment. When Muslims came to power in 1983, jihad was declared against the millions of Christians living there. As a result at least 1.5 and 3 million people have been killed. More Sudanese have become victims than in Rwanda, Bosnia, Somalia, and Kosovo combined. Fifty thousand children of the Dinka tribe alone are held as slaves. Forced conversions to Islam are government policy and the Mujahidin (holy warriors) fight alongside government forces. Open preaching and evangelism is illegal and punishable by imprisonment or beatings. These are not isolated incidents. Christians who openly worship Jesus in many Muslim countries may be killed, imprisoned, forced out of work, or forced to convert to Islam. The idea that this is occurring by a small fringe group of Taliban radicals is simply not true. In reality, more than a dozen governments encompassing hundreds of millions of Muslims justify these acts by followers of the Qur’an and the prophet Muhammad.

Information compiled by CIA World Fact Book “Oman”; VOM www.persecution.net ‘Oman’; “Unveiling Islam” by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner;
--------------------------------------------------------
People and Power Part 1


People and Power Part 2


Muscat-Capital of Oman


Beautiful Oman