A distinct living Muslim tradition
Identity
Ibadi Islam is neither a branch of Sunni Islam nor a branch of Shi‘i Islam. It has its own theology, jurisprudence and historical literature, with important communities in Oman and parts of North Africa.
Origins and scholarship
Research on its early development examines Basra, Oman and debates about leadership in the first Islamic centuries. The relationship between Ibadism and groups historically called Khawarij requires careful source criticism; a polemical label should not replace an account of living Ibadi belief.
Further reading
Valerie Hoffman’s The Essentials of Ibadi Islam introduces theological texts to English readers. John Wilkinson’s study examines origins and the Omani imamate. These offer distinct routes into doctrine and history rather than treating the community as a footnote to other schools.
Sources and further reading
Syracuse University Press — The Essentials of Ibadi Islam
Oxford University Press — Ibadism: Origins and Early Development in Oman
This source-attributed introduction is educational. A historical survey, a community’s statement of belief and a jurist’s ruling are different kinds of source. Their inclusion does not turn every interpretation into a consensus.