Bayaa

The bayaa ceremony (al-bayaa) is performed in Islamic societies, as a means to formally endorse the rule a newly-appointed Imam, Sultan or other leader, by a pledge of allegiance.

Overview

The bayaa origins start with the death of the Prophet Muhammad (circa 7th century) and the public support given to the caliphs who followed him.

During a two-day ceremony, hundreds of clerics, tribal chiefs, 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"). [ [http://www.muslimaccess.com/articles/misc/islamic_governance.asp Muslim Access] - Explanation of Islamic governance.]

The Koran does NOT state that a Muslim who fails to baaya (pledge allegiance) to state authority, will die a death of Jahiliyyah (ignorance, meaning he exists as a non-Muslim as in a state before the advent of the religion of Islam). [Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, "Mizan", Chapter:"The Political Law Of Islam". [http://www.al-mawrid.org/Content/ViewArticle.aspx?articleId=157] ]

References

External links

* [http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=17347 Description of the bayaa ceremony honouring King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, 2005]