Study and Elucidation of the Course of Development and Transformation of Imamate Institution to Monarchy in Oman's Abāḍiyya History

One of the most important developments that brought about other developments in recent centuries in Oman is the transformation of Imamate into monarchy and hereditary rule. The history of Oman after Islam is to be interpreted and analyzed only by the rulership of the doctrine of Abaḍiyya, which is based on the sovereignty of an Imam who is to be elected by the society (ahl-i ḥall wa aqd = representatives of theÇ Muslim community who act on itsÇ behalf in appointing and deposing aÇ caliph or another ruler). Despite various strengths and weaknesses and ups and downs, the rulership of Abāḍiyya has insisted on and abided by this tradition; and Imamate as being hereditary had not been common among the Abāḍiyya before the Imamate of Ya‘rabīs. The decisive formality of hereditary Imamate in Āl-i Būsa‘īd period prompted some to know the transformation of the Imamate institution to monarchy or hereditary rule to be since the time of Āl-i Būsa‘īd; whereas, it seems that the domestic and foreign backgrounds of this development had been gradually formed very long time before that in Oman community and achieved accomplishment in Āl-i Būsa‘īd period. Using the descriptive-analytical method and through library study, this research is intended to study and analyze the course of development and transformation of the Imamate institution to monarchy in Oman’s Abāḍiyya history.