Shu'ubiyya

The Shu ʿ ubiya (Arabic الشعوبية, DMG aš - Šu ʿ ūbīya ) denotes a Persian nationalist movement in the 8th and 9th centuries, their followers did the Arab superiority in question.

Terminology

The term " Schu'ubiya " goes back to the Sura 49 verse 13 of the Koran, in which associations ( Schu'ub ) and tribes ( Qaba'il ) is mentioned.

You people! We have created you ( by you) ( were descended ) of a male and a female, and we have made ​​you into nations and tribes, that ye may (as a result of the genealogical relationships ) knows each other. ( Educate yourself on your noble ancestry but not too much here!) As chief among God considers one of you that is most pious. God is Knowing ( with all things) taught. This Surah was and is often used by Muslims to prevent prejudice and violence between groups.

The term Schu'ubiya was in use before the ninth century, when the Kharijites rejected the privileges and superiority of the Quraysh as leader of the Umma.

The followers of the Persian Schu'ubiya in 8/9 Century were using the term itself probably also He thus had no discriminatory intent. The followers of the Persian Schu'ubiya interpreted the above sura new. The traditional Arabic interpretation assumed that both schu'ub and kaba'il refer to groups that differ from each other by their genealogy. In contrast, the supporters of the Schu'ubiya took the interpretation that schu'ub refers to a group with a territorial definition.

Form of the movement

On the motion Persians were involved in the majority, but by traditions are also Coptic, Aramaic and Berber pendants known. The trailer translated ancient Greek literature and promoted literature and poetry in the Persian language. So they wanted to show that their ancestry and traditions were more genteel than that of the Arabs. In addition, libels were published and established theories, which should emphasize the noble origin of the Persians. So it was alleged, among other things, Arabs are inferior to the Persians, as the Arab ancestors can be traced back to the son of Ibrahim with his slave Hagar, however, descended from Persian legitimate son Isaac.

Origin and causes of the movement

The Schu'ubiya probably was not aimed at the destruction of Islamic rule, but rather an expression of a resurgent Persian national consciousness. The aim was the promotion of non-Arab, especially Persian elements and influences in the Islamic dominion.

A majority of the followers of the Schu'ubiya belonged to the class of even going back to the Sassanid officials. After the conquest of the Persian territories, the Arabs had taken over the Sassanid administrative structures, so that officials retained their privileges. Despite, or perhaps because they had to endure during the reign of the Umayyad discrimination and abuse. The Abbasid resistance use and promoted these tensions and competition between Arabs and Persians for their goals. After the Abbasid overthrow of the Abbasid granted the Persians an absolute equality, where they joined Islam and its scriptures written in Arabic.

This development strengthened the Persian national consciousness. Simultaneously, the Persian officials felt, however, also threatened. The world had become much more permeable changing, and social boundaries. It was also now possible to reach an office, would have been not really suitable for someone at birth. This increasing Arab influence in their particular field and a higher importance of Arabic literature and poetry threatened the privileges of the ancient Persian officials class. For these reasons, many of the Schu'ubiya joined to emphasize their noble roots.

Importance of Schu'ubiya

The evaluation of the Schu'ubiya is nowadays difficult because there are no more original sources, and all knowledge of Arabic secondary sources is derived through the Schu'ubiya. For this reason, there is no single scientific evaluation.

According to some scientists, such as the French linguist G. Lecomte, the Schu'ubiya was overestimated in their importance because they had no major programs, leader. For Lecomte she put more diffuse anti-Arab tilt dar. Iran expert and Harvard professor Roy Mottahedeh make reference to and raises the question of why the Schu'ubiya if insignificant because from today's perspective, the time caused strong reactions on the Arab side has. These reactions bore witness that the Schu'ubiya had quite a strong meaning for the Arabs of their time.

According to the Scottish Islamic scholar H.A.R. Gibb, there were various, partly indirect responses to the Schu'ubiya on the Arab side:

Broad consensus is that the Schu'ubiya in wearing a crucial part in ensuring that the Persian language has been preserved until today.