Accusations towards Al'Zaidiyyah

Thank you for your question! I have heard the same accusation unfortunately. To that, I would respond by saying: {Bring forth your proof if ye are indeed truthful} (Q. 2:111) It is upon the accuser to provide evidence for his claim; it is not upon the accused.

Such person would have to provide clear evidence that our imams and scholars directly took from the hanafis and mu'tazilis. This is NOT demonstrated by similarities in positions and thought; rather, there has to be clear and unequivocal evidence of pilfering our theology from the muta'zilis and fiqh from the hanafis. This is because similarities exist throughout the madhaahib, and these similarities could be due to similarity in approach or the like. But to say that madhhab took something from another demands ample proof.

If our opponents would simply peruse our foundational books of comparative theology and fiqh, they would see that our imams and scholars cite the positions of hanafis, mu'tazilis, asharis, shafi'is, rafidis, etc. and state where we agree and disagree with them. We share similar positions with the shafi'is for example, when it comes to the recitation of the basmala aloud in the prayers, but does that mean we took our fiqh from the shafi'is? We share similar positions with the malikis when it comes to praying with our arms by the sides, but does that mean we took from the malikis?

I would admit that most of our theological positions are aligned with the mu'tazilis and fiqh positions are aligned with hanafis, but i would say that this is due to similarity in approach, not influence. However, our imams also state points of disagreement with the hanafis and mu'tazilis as i mentioned earlier.

On the other hand, I would say that the mutazilis and hanafis were influenced by Ahl al-Bayt. My proof? Shahrastani said in his Milal that the mu'tazilis attended the sessions of the imams of Ahl al-bayt (as). Also, if you study hanafi usul, you would note that they took many of their rulings from the Kufan authorities who took from the likes of Ibn Mas'ud and the Commander of the Believers, Ali b. Abi Talib (as).

Finally, I would say that this claim (esp by the 12ers) is another feeble attempt to obfuscate the Zaydi school and distant them from the imams of Ahl al-Bayt. If you can prove that the zaydis got their aqeeda and fiqh from other than the Ahl al-Bayt, then you could easily foster your claim that you follow the Ahl al-Bayt exclusively. This is what the 12ers have been trying to do since the beginning.

And Allah knows best!

IRS