al-Kaysāniyyah (الْكَيْسَانِيَّة)
العقيدة
التعريف :
An extinct Shia sect, named after Kaysān, a Mawlā of ꜤAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib. They believed that Kaysān learnt from ꜤAlī and his son Muhammad, all hidden secrets, including the interpretation of the Qur'an, secret knowledge, the outer horizons and souls. The followers of this sect said that the Imamah is transferred to Muhammad ibn ꜤAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah) after the death of his brother, al-Ḥusayn. They claimed that he was the Mahdi.
المعنى الاصطلاحي :
A Rafidite Imami sect who are followers of Kaysan.
الشرح المختصر :
The Kaysaniyyah, or Kaysanites, is one of the Rafidite sects, ascribed to Kaysan, who was the student of Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafiyyah, or the slave of `Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Kaysaniyyah emerged after the murder of the rightly-guided caliph `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. Some of the major beliefs of Kaysaniyyah are: 1- They believe that Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafiyyah was more entitled to the caliphate after `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and whoever opposes him is a disbeliever. 2- They believe in "badaa' ", which means that it is possible for Allah Almighty to change His will based on new knowledge that did not exist before. 3- They believe that the "Mahdi" is Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafiyyah and that he is alive and staying on the Mount Radwa (close to Madinah). They also believe that he is between two lions guarding him, and that there are forty of his companions with him; and that finally he will return after his long absence and fill the earth with justice. 4- They claim that religion is obedience to a man. 5- They reject the pillars of Islam; have doubts about resurrection; believe in incarnation and returning after death.
التعريف اللغوي المختصر :
"Kaysaaniyyah": an ascription to "Kaysaan". It refers to the "Kaysaaniyyah" sect, which was given this name for following a man called Kaysaan.