the example of the early Muslims and old Muhakkimah.102 Besides refuting the views of the extreme Kharijites, early Ibadhi Imams made their policy quite clear on those issues. When 'Abdullah b. Yahya al-Kindi consulted the Ibadhi leaders of Basrah about revolting, Abu 'Ubaidah Muslim b. Abi Karimah, the second Imam of the Ibadhi community in Basrah and his colleagues wrote to him, "When you come out (for jihad) do not exceed the proper bounds or be perfidious; follow the example of your good predecessors and adopt their way, for you have learnt that what has driven them to fight the rulers was disapproval of their deeds."103

The outlines of the Ibadhis' attitude on their relations with the rest of the Muslim community were expressed by 'Abdullah b. Ibadh in his well-known statement, "We do not regard our Muslim opponents (mukhalifun) as idolaters, for they believe in the unity of God, the Book, and the Messenger. But they are 'infidels-ingrate' (kuffar al-ni'am). We hold it lawful to inherit from them, marry from them, and live among them. The faith of Islam unites them (with us)."104 This statement was confirmed and repeated by the contemporary and subsequent Ibadhi authorities, such as Salim b. Dhakwan, 'Abdullah b. Yahya al-Kindi, and Abu Hamzah al-Mukhtar b. 'Awf.

'Abdullah b. Yahya al-Kindi, the first Ibadhi Imam of Hadramawt and Yemen, wrote in his letter of commission to his governor, 'Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad, "We do not block people's way and murder them on sight without inviting them first to realise the truth. But we invite them to the truth. He who accepts it enjoys all the rights that the Muslims (i.e. Ibadhis) enjoy, and is subject to all their obligations. He who denies the truth and fights us we fight him and ask God to give us support against him"105

Ibadhis repeatedly expressed this attitude of inviting people and giving them a chance to understand the view of the Ibadhis, and waiting for them to decide their attitude first. They always made it clear that they would fight their opponents only when the latter attacked them first. Practical examples of this Ibadhi attitude appear continuously throughout their history, whereas the policy of murdering opponents without previous warning known as 'isti'rad, was the distinguishing mark of the Azraqis all times. It was also one of the main issues which made the Ibadhis oppose the Azraqis and other extreme Kharijites, as well as other extremist attitudes resulting from their regarding their Muslim opponents as idolaters. The attitude of the Ibadhis on those issues was expressed in different forms by 'Abdullah b. Yahya, Abu Hamzah and Salim b. Dhakwan. 'Abdullah b. Yahya wrote, ".... This is our policy (Sirah). We do not punish the innocent for the guilty, the good for the evil, the woman for the man, or the young for the old. We do not slay people on sight without calling them to the truth first, and making it clear to them."106