Debunking Ahmad al-Basri’s Claims: The “Yamani Kaaba” and the Yamani’s Origin

Followers of Ahmad al-Basri raise another objection regarding the Yamani’s emergence from Yemen. They argue that it is impossible for the Yamani to be from Yemen because the inhabitants of Yemen, from ancient times until the present, have predominantly followed the Zaydi school of thought, whereas the Yamani is a Twelver Shi’a.

Response to the Zaydi Objection

• Firstly: This doubt contradicts narrations that explicitly state the Yamani’s emergence from Yemen.
• Secondly: If such an objection were valid, the same objection could be raised concerning the emergence of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him) himself. According to authentic narrations, he will emerge from Mecca, even though Mecca is currently full of enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
• Thirdly: The conditions of people will undergo a transformation during the time of Imam al-Zaman’s (peace be upon him) reappearance. Some narrations indicate that the beliefs and convictions of many people will change:

“When the Qa’im (peace be upon him) emerges, those who used to consider themselves among his followers will depart from this matter [Wilayah], and those who resemble sun-worshippers and moon-worshippers will enter into his matter [Wilayah].” (Al-Ghaybah by Nu’mani, p. 317)

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) states:

“When the Qa’im rises, those who always seemed to be among his people [of Wilayah] will depart from this matter [Wilayah], and those who resemble sun-worshippers and moon-worshippers will enter into his matter [Wilayah].”

Social Analysis

• Recent events in Yemen clearly demonstrate that the inclination of Yemenis towards Twelver Shi’ism is greater than before, surpassing their adherence to the Zaydi school.
• Even if we assume that, during the era of reappearance, the majority of the people of Yemen remain Zaydi, this would still not undermine the Yamani’s emergence from Yemen.
• It is possible that some of the Yamani’s followers could be from Yemen, while others could join him from various other countries, and these individuals could be Twelver Shi’a.

• This possibility is plausible, as the narrations do not specify that all of the Yamani’s followers must be Shi’a.