assassination of a certain Khardalah who informed the 'Umayyad authorities about the names of the members of the Ibadhi movement in Basrah and disclosed its secrets.59 Jabir also allowed bribery to avoid difficulties with the authorities during the rule of 'Ubaidulah b. Ziyad.60

The increasing and continuing oppression of the members of the Muhakkimah party in Basrah by 'Ubaidullah b. Ziyad obliged some of the members to react violently, and led the authorities to further persecution of their fellow Muslims.61 The faced all sorts of cruel treatment ranging from imprisonment to death.62 Even women were subjected to cruel punishment.63 This situation made it impossible for the leading personalities of the party to lead a peaceful life, let alone have any chance to propagate and teach their views. At this stage the principle of shira', sacrifice of one's life, was introduced into the movement under special rules, and was carried out by forty members of the movement under the leadership of Abu Bilal Mirdas, who made it clear that he intended to fight only those who fought against him, and that he would not take anything of spoils except the pensions ('ulyat) which he was entitled to take.64 This was in fact an open rejection of the policy of 'isti'rad, which was practised by some of the Khawarij prior to Abu Bilal, who was known for their sympathy with the Muhakkimah party.65 It was also a practical execution of the policies of shira', sacrifice of one's life and qu'ud, remaining quiescent under the rule of tyrants and not going out for jihad against their rule, during the 'stage' of kitman, secrecy. In so doing, Abu Bilal did not reject qu'ud or taqiyah. In fact he himself approved of the principle of taqiyah and advised al- Bathia to hide her beliefs when he heard that 'Ubaidullah b. Ziyad had decided to punish her.66 However, Abu Bilal and his followers, after they defeated an army of two thousand, were all killed in another battle while performing their prayers.67 Ibadhi authorities reported that this revolt of Abu Bilal was planned and approved of by Jabir b. Zaid, the Imam of the Ibadhis at that time.68 It is also reported that Abu Bilal, when leaving Basrah, asked Jabir to join him,69 but Jabir stayed in Basrah and continued his policy of avoiding violence. The relation between Ibadhis and their Muslim opponents was established on the basis of the following principles:

a) Ibadhis should fight only those who fight against them and must not adopt the policy of 'isti'rad.

b) The property of Muslims should not be taken as spoils and their women and children should not be killed or taken in captivity (saby). This principle is based on the example and the proactive of the early Muslims in their fight against 'Uthman and his supporters, and on the practice of 'Ali in his war against Talhah and al-Zubair when 'Ali was the legal Caliph.70

c) Khuruj is not obligatory, and Muslims can live under the rule of tyrants