but in spite of all the difficulties, the Ibadhi's activities at that time were carried out mainly through the majalis.42

It appears that the idea of majalis was transferred by Ibadhi students from Basrah to North Africa. It is reported that Abu Khalil al-Darkali, a student of the 'bearers of learning', told his students, "Go to the majalis, you lazy boys, for there have been who joined them between his country and Qabis, and between his country and Fazzan."43 It was said that he meant himself by that. However, the majalis were established during the stage of secrecy to ensure the safety of the Ibadhis and they became afterwards one of the essential requirements of the Ibadhis community during the periods of Kitman (secrecy).

It can be said that the Ibadhi movement with the leadership of Abu 'Ubaidah Muslim was an intellectual religious movement, its activities in Basrah were mainly educational. The policy of Abu 'Ubaidah was to educate the members and teach them the Ibadhi doctrine, and to have as many students as he could from different provinces of the Muslim countries, in order to establish a universal Imamate over the Muslim world.44 In order to carry out his activities in Basrah, Abu Ubaidah disconnected himself completely from the rulers so that he would be on the safe side. His policy in this respect was contrary to the policy of his predecessor Jabir b. Zaid. Abu 'Ubaidah's instructions to his followers were that they must not have any connections with the rulers. 'Abdullah b. 'Abd al-'Aziz a student of Abu 'Ubaidah, reported that one of the rulers ('Ummal) said to an Ibadhi member, "Let me write down your name in the register (diwan) and share with you your salary; and my brother will save you the trouble of the oath (al-bai'ah), and you take the money spontaneously." 'Abdullah said, "I went to Abu 'Ubaidah and asked him about his opinion concerning that offer, he said, 'Do not go to them or be near them there is no good for you in that."45 A similar story is reported by al-Rabi' b. Habib, another student of Abu 'Ubaidah, who succeeded him as a leader of the Ibadhi community in Basrah. He said, "An Ibadhi member wanted to accompany a newly appointed ruler and to go out with him. We asked the man who ordered you to go out with this governor? Another man said that Abu 'Ubaidah allowed him to do so. Al-Rabi' said, "I went to Abu 'Ubaidah and asked him if he had allowed that person to accompany the governor," he said, 'I did not order him with anything of that nature; it is said in the proverb: The fox said, 'I have ninety-nine tricks, no one of them is more useful to me than that the dog does not see me, and I do not see him.' It is the same with the Muslim; there is nothing better for him than not to see them (the rulers) or let them see him, by God; I am afraid for their Mu'adhin, that he will not be safe in calling for prayers, for them, so how about the others?"46 This firm attitude taken by Abu 'Ubaidah towards the rulers was the main mark of his policy, the only exception to this rule being 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz to whom a delegation was