Bayaa
Encyclopedia
The bayaa ceremony
( al-baya'ah) is performed in Islam
ic societies, as a means to formally endorse the rule of a newly-appointed Caliph, Imam
, Sultan
or other leader, by a pledge of allegiance.
(c. 7th century) and the public support given to the caliphs who followed him.
During a two-day ceremony, hundreds of clerics, tribal chief
s, military officers, and other prominent citizens pledge their allegiance
to the new ruler. Each of these individuals shakes the hand of the new ruler and states "I express my allegiance to you. I hear and obey, except in what would disobey God."
The ceremony is meant to be open to all citizens, but rarely is. Some Muslims view this ceremony as a facade used to maintain a system of hereditary monarchy
, whereas the first four post-Mohammad rulers were selected by the citizens (a practice of public consensus called "shura
").
Ceremony
A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin.-Ceremonial occasions:A ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a human life, marking the significance of, for example:* birth...
( al-baya'ah) is performed in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic societies, as a means to formally endorse the rule of a newly-appointed Caliph, Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
, Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
or other leader, by a pledge of allegiance.
Overview
The bayaa origins start with the death of the Prophet MuhammadMuhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
(c. 7th century) and the public support given to the caliphs who followed him.
During a two-day ceremony, hundreds of clerics, tribal chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
s, military officers, and other prominent citizens pledge their allegiance
Allegiance
An allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her state or sovereign.-Etymology:From Middle English ligeaunce . The al- prefix was probably added through confusion with another legal term, allegeance, an "allegation"...
to the new ruler. Each of these individuals shakes the hand of the new ruler and states "I express my allegiance to you. I hear and obey, except in what would disobey God."
The ceremony is meant to be open to all citizens, but rarely is. Some Muslims view this ceremony as a facade used to maintain a system of hereditary monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
, whereas the first four post-Mohammad rulers were selected by the citizens (a practice of public consensus called "shura
Shura
Shura is an Arabic word for "consultation". The Quran and Muhammad encourage Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with those who will be affected by that decision....
").