sent on behalf of the Ibadhi movement.47

During the time of Jabir it is mentioned that a group of outstanding leaders of the Muhakkimah party, including 'Abdullah b. Ibadh, contacted 'Abdullah b. al-Zubair and offered him help in the hope that he might agree to their views.48 Abu 'Ubaidah adopted contrary policy. He always wanted a pure Ibadhi movement, which could reach its aims without any confusion. It is reported that 'Abdullah b. al-Hasan, when he wanted to revolt against the Umayyad, he sent to Abu 'Ubaidah and some other Shaikhs of the Ibadhi community in Basrah to discuss his plans with them. The Shaikhs agreed to send Salih b. Kathir to him, but Abu 'Ubaidah refused to agree with their opinion and said, "What do you expect from a man who is afraid about his life and seeking kingdom, would not he agree to all your demands? If he agreed to what you invite him to, he would say: "I agree with your views, but the people will be of more support to me and I have more right (to the Imamate)," what would you say to him, O Salih, when he is correct? If he wanted religion as he claims, let him join our man in Hadramawt, 'Abdullah b. Yahya, and fight under his leadership till he dies."49 So they changed their minds because of Abu 'Ubaidah. This firm attitude of Abu 'Ubaidah against having any contacts with non-Ibadhi Muslims was very clear, and covered other aspects of life such as marriage50 in addition to political and religious activities. This policy was assured with the principle of al-walayah and al-bara'ah and with the system of al-majalis. In Basrah the Ibadhi community maintained the policy of secrecy under the leadership of Abu 'Ubaidah. It seems that the community of the Shaikhs in Basrah was the executive committee of the Ibadhi movement. Abu 'Ubaidah was the leader, or the Imam, who was in charge of the religious affairs and the general policy of the whole community. He was consulted by Ibadhis all over the Muslim countries about their problems and plans. In Yemen, 'Abdullah b. Yahya did not proclaim the Imamate until he got the approval of Abu 'Ubaidah. The Imamate of Abu al-Khattab in North Africa was also designed by Abu 'Ubaidah.52

There were a number of outstanding Shaikhs who took an important part beside Abu 'Ubaidah in his task. Among the leading Shaikhs was: i) Abu Mawdud Hajib al-Ta'I, of Banu Hilal, a mawla, originally from Oman, who was born in Basrah.53 He joined the Ibadhi movement after the death of Jabir b. Zaid54 and became Abu 'Ubaidah's right-hand man. He was in charge of military and financial affairs.55 His house was one of the important centres of the movement in Basrah. It was used for prayers during Ramadhan,56 and important meetings of the Shaikhs were held in it.57 When 'Abdullah b. Yahya al-Kindi and Abu Hamzah proclaimed the Imamate, Hajib collected a large amount of money to help them and bought weapons for them.58 When he died he left a debt of fifty thousand Dirhams, and his colleague al-Fadl b.