The Identity of Religion in South Yemen: From Colonialism to the Independent State (1839-1990)

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

((Arabian Sea)) South24: South24 Center for News and Studies has released the second part of its research series on religious identity in southern Yemen, prepared by researcher Farida Ahmed under the title "From British Colonialism to the Independent State (1839-1990)." The study continues the first part, which dealt with the historical context and the pre-Islamic and Ottoman eras, but focuses here on the profound transformations that the South witnessed during the British colonial and socialist periods, and the impact of these transformations on the religious and social structure. The researcher explains that "the British presence in Aden brought with it aspects of urban and commercial modernization, but it imposed a colonial reality that affected the religious and social structure of the population," noting that Aden "was a unique fabric of ethnicities and religions, where Arabs, Indians, Jews, Somalis, and others coexisted in relative harmony, making the city a center for cultural and religious diversity." Religious Diversity and the Role of Religious Leaders: The study monitors the pivotal role of the Shafi'i school of thought and Sufism in the South, where it confirms that "the Shafi'i school was characterized by moderation and the ability to integrate into various social and cultural contexts, which helped in social cohesion," while Sufi lodges and centers in Hadramout and Aden played a major role in preserving Islamic identity. The researcher points out that "the Grand Islamic Association, which was founded in 1949, was the first religious political organization in Aden, and contributed to defending Arab and Islamic identity in the face of colonial cultural influences." It also touched on the establishment of the "Islamic Social Cultural Center" in 1966 as an organizational development of Islamic activity in Aden. Minorities and Other Religions: The study addressed the presence of religious minorities such as the Bohras, Hindus, Jews, and Christians, and their role in enriching cultural and economic life in Aden. The study indicates that "the Hindu community was heavily present as a result of the close trade relations between the port of Aden and Mumbai [in India], and Hindu temples spread in the Crater and Tawahi areas." Regarding the Jewish presence, the study explained that "the Jewish community in Aden peaked in the 1940s, where they had a prominent economic role before the riots of 1947 and the forced migration after the setback led to a significant decline in their presence." Regarding Christianity, the study described Aden as "the only city in the Arabian Peninsula that embraced Christian churches that originated in the British era, such as St. Joseph's Church and St. Anthony's Church, but they were limited to serving foreign communities without affecting the local population." The study believes that the British brought about a transformation in the structure of education and administration, where they established schools and missionary missions, "but these schools were met with suspicion from the locals, who adhered to the Quranic schools and mosques to teach their children the principles of religion." The British administration also "restructured the judicial system and replaced the traditional influence of scholars and sheikhs with modern institutions linked to colonial authority." The Socialist Era (1967-1990): The study details the religious transformations that the South witnessed after independence and the establishment of the socialist state. "The authorities nationalized endowments in 1968 and imposed new personal status laws, most notably the Family Law of 1974." The researcher points out that "the socialist authorities sought to reduce the role of religion in public life and subjected religious institutions to state control, which prompted some religious leaders to revive informal educational circles in Hadramout and other regions." Final Results: The study concluded with several key findings, most notably: 1 - British colonialism led to profound social and political transformations in the city of Aden, but at the same time, it did not change its nature as a culturally and religiously diverse city, where various nationalities and religions coexisted with tolerance. 2 - British colonialism in southern Yemen constituted a decisive turning point in the history of education and religious institutions in the region. While Quranic schools and mosques represented the traditional educational model, focusing on teaching the Quran and Islamic law, British missionary missions sought to establish modern schools in English, with the aim of spreading Western education and influencing the religious identity of the local population. At the same time, the British administration worked to undermine the influence of traditional religious institutions, reduce the role of scholars and sheikhs in managing public affairs, and replace them with modern institutions affiliated with the colonial authority. 3 - Islam constituted a fundamental axis in organizing resistance efforts against British colonialism in Aden, as manifested in the establishment of the Grand Islamic Association in 1949, which included prominent figures who defended the Arab and Islamic identity of the city. Despite societal reactions rejecting the influence on Islamic religious identity, the religious scene in southern Yemen was characterized by tolerance and coexistence between different sects, which contributed to shaping cultural and social identity. 4 - The Shafi'i school of thought constituted a fundamental pillar of religious and social identity in southern Yemen, and contributed to consolidating social cohesion and cultural pluralism. Its jurisprudential flexibility and moderation helped facilitate coexistence between the components of society. Sufism also played a pivotal role in spreading and promoting this school of thought through educational and religious institutions in Hadramout, Aden, and elsewhere. This interaction resulted in the formation of a religious environment characterized by openness and cohesion, a characteristic that remained prevalent until the region began to witness noticeable transformations with the changing features of religious discourse, which ultimately affected southern Yemen. 5 - During the socialist era, southern Yemen witnessed political and social transformations, and the authority brought about radical changes in the administrative and economic system, which led to the displacement of wealthy classes and the decline of social diversity in Aden, and the transfer of economic leadership to the middle class, which depended on the state. 6 - The socialist regime in southern Yemen sought to bring about a radical transformation in society by imposing a Marxist ideology, undermining the role of religious institutions, and changing educational curricula, but popular religiosity remained strong, and the regime was unable to change the religious identity of the population. The study concludes that the religious identity of southern Yemen was formed through coexistence between sects and religions, despite the effects of colonialism and socialism, and that these historical experiences still cast a shadow on the current scene. It is expected that the center will issue, in the coming months, the third and fourth parts of the research series "Religious Identity in Southern Yemen," to cover the period between 1990, after the declaration of political unity between South Yemen and North Yemen, and the subsequent political events and military wars that cast a shadow on the religious scene in a profound way, up to the present day.