Society of the Righteous - Ibadhi Muslim Identity and Transnationalism in Tanzania

Though the Omani sultanate's power ended in Tanzania more than 50 years ago, its imperial legacy persists today-as do its unique religious communities. Neither Sunni nor Shi'a, the Ibadhi Muslims of Oman have used a rhetoric of tolerance and peaceful coexistence to spread their beliefs through North and East Africa, including a small but significant percentage of Zanzibar's Muslim population. In Society of the Righteous, Kimberly T. Wortmann traces the ways that Tanzania's Ibadhis have countered suspicions of outside influence and elitism through charitable giving, intra-Muslim cooperation, and economic development. Focusing on the efforts of the Istiqaama Muslim Community, a transnational charity network established in Oman and Tanzania in 1995, she reveals the strategies used by these "People of Truth and Righteousness" to ensure the survival of their unique religious adherences and doctrines. The various schools, mosques, radio stations, and charities established by Istiqaama are ke