Studies in Ibāḍism (al-Ibāḍīyya)

and preserved.44

All those works by early Ibadhi authorities contain the Ibadhi view of the early changes which took place in the Muslim community and which started with opposition to the policies of the third Caliph 'Uthman b. 'Affan, and the Ibadhi account of, and attitude towards, the different parties which came into existence in early Islamic history. The following account of the Ibadhi view of the early political development of the Muslim community, and their view of the Kharijites is based on the above-mentioned materials.

The Ibadhis considered their movement a continuation of the opposition which overthrew 'Uthman b. Affan, the third Caliph and caused his death. They regarded that opposition as being a purely Islamic rejection of the innovations introduced by 'Uthman and his 'Umayyad court. Those innovations (ahdath), were pointed out in K. Sifat Ahdath 'Uthman, the letter of 'Abdullah b. Ibadh and the Sirah of Salim b. Dhakwan. There is no mention in Ibadhi sources of the rule of 'Abdullah b. Saba' in this first revolt against 'Uthman, a fact which indicates that Ibadhis understood that the revolt was an Islamic duty carried out by the Companions of the Prophet who wanted to keep to the Sunnah of the Prophet and the example of his two successors, and not a result of any outside or mysterious influence. They (the Ibadhis) approved of the Caliphate of 'Ali b. Abi Talib and regarded Talhah, al-Zubair, A'ishah and their party as the rebellious party (al-fi'atu al-baghiyah).46 It is reported that both Jabir b. Zaid and Abu Bilal Mirdas discussed with 'A'ishah her attitude at the battle of the Camel and blamed her for her opposition to 'Ali who was the legal Caliph at that time, and she once more repented.47 They also approved of 'Ali in his wars against Mu'awiyah and regarded both Mu'awiyah and 'Amr b. al-'As and their party as the rebellious party which should be fought until they accepted the commands of God.48 But they disapproved of Ali's acceptance of arbitration, regarding those who rejected arbitration as the true Muslims, and their leader 'Abdullah b. Wahb al-Rasibi he fifth legal Caliph.49 They renounced 'Ali b. Abi Talib for killing che people of al-Nahr and argued that he had no right w hatsoever to fight them. Abu 'Ubaidah Muslim b. Abi Karimah commented on the statement made by 'Ali regarding the slogan of the people of al-Nahr (la hukm illa lillah), that it was a word of truth meant for falsehood. Abu 'Ubaidah said that, since 'Ali know that their slogan expressed the truth, who informed him that false hood was their intention?50

It is reported on the authority of Jabir b. Zaid that when 'Ali b. Abi Talib noticed that his followers were disturbed at the slaughter of pious Muslims in the battle of al-Nahrawan, and regretted what they had done, he asked them on the next day of the battle to search for a devil among the dead people of al- Nahr, so they brought him a man who was bitten in the chest by a camel, and