International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

ISSN 2220-8488 (Print), 2221-0989 (Online)

Article Icon Article Information
Original Research Article | Open Access | Peer Reviewed update icon Check for updates

Islamic Sects Between Opposition and Political Participation: A Comparative Study of Umayyad and Abbasid Policies Toward Doctrinal Groups

Altalafha, Zaid Gandhi Email
Abstract

This study aims to provide a comparative analysis of Umayyad and Abbasid policies toward different Islamic sects, focusing on the transformation from opposition to political participation. The study employs a comparative historical methodology to examine how both the Umayyads and Abbasids dealt with various doctrinal groups, and analyzes the factors that led to changes in these sects' positions from absolute opposition to limited or full political participation. The findings indicate that the Abbasids followed a more flexible and inclusive policy compared to the Umayyads, enabling them to integrate some sects into the political system and transform them from opposition forces into partners in governance. The study also shows that the transformation in policies toward Islamic sects had a significant impact on state stability and political longevity. The study concludes that a state's success in managing sectarian diversity depends on its ability to balance maintaining religious identity with openness to political pluralism.

Article History:
Received: 7 August 2025 | Accepted: 7 September 2025 | Published: 7 September 2025
Reviewer(s): Dr. Davoud Gharayagh-Zandi, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4778-4805 .
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Sawaluddin, M.Pd.I, Institut Agama Islam Rokan, Indonesia. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5041-7301 .
Email: [email protected]
Address for Correspondence: Altalafha, Zaid Gandhi
[email protected]
Cite this article:
APA | MLA | Chicago | Harvard | Vancouver
Article Metrics (Citations):
For the most up-to-date citation information for this article, please refer to Google Scholar.

Note: Citation statistics will only be available once the article is indexed in Google Scholar.