Bay'ah

A pledge of allegiance, given to a ruler, or in Sufi orders to a spiritual guide.

Also written · Bayah · Baya · Bayat · Baiah · Bai'ah · Biat · Beyat · Bayah to a shaykh · pledge of allegiance · oath of allegiance · allegiance · homage

The meaning

What Bay'ah means in Islam

The word comes from bay', a sale, since the one who pledges gives loyalty and receives protection in return. The Qur'an records the pledge under the tree and the pledge of the believing women, and the Prophet took bay'ah on obedience in what is good, a condition scholars stress: there is no obedience to a creature in disobedience to the Creator. In Sufi orders bay'ah to a shaykh is a commitment to a path of training, which is a different use of the same word.

Evidence · Qur’an · Stated directly in the Qur’an

Read beside it

Words that sit beside it

Bay'Sale: the exchange of property for property by mutual consent.بَيْع
DhimmahThe historic covenant under which non Muslims in a Muslim state kept their religion and protection.ذِمَّة
QadiA judge in an Islamic court, whose ruling binds, unlike a mufti's opinion.قاضٍ
FiqhThe human effort to work out Islamic law from its sources, and the rulings that result.الفِقْه