1873.] E. C. Ross— Tenets of the IbdclU Sect of 'Oman. 5 



Translation from the Keshf-ul- Ghummeh-el-Jdmi-el-akhbar-el-ummch of 

 the Sheik Sirhdn ben Said-el- Alawi of 'Oman. 



Chapter XXIX. 



On the tenets of the Ibadhi sect, tohose is the true Religion, founded on 

 the Book and the law, and concurrent testimony. 



The sect is denominated Ibadhi after the Imam of the Muslims, 'Ab- 

 dullah bin Ibadh bin Teym-el-Lat bin Thalabeh bin Rahat-el-Elinaf bin 

 Kais-el-Tamimi. He it was who withdrew from all the various erring sects 

 such as* the Motezeliyeh, the Kaderiyeh, the Sefatiyeh, the Jahmiyeh,f 

 the Khawarij Kawafidh,J and the Shiah. 



He was the first to expose their false doctrines and to nullify the bane- 

 fulness of their heresies by convincing arguments and the clearest demon- 

 stration. 



He grew to manhood in the time of Muawiyeh bin Ali Safiyan, and 

 lived to the time of Abd-el-Malek bin Marwan,§ to whom he wrote his 

 celebrated epistles and exhortations on moral conduct. 



The origin of the sect is traced up to 'Abdullah bin-el-Abbas, and 

 Abusha'tha jabir-bin Zeyd. It derives from the people of Nahrawan|[ 

 and Nakhileh and from the survivors from the fields of % Siffin and el- 

 Jamal.** Further from the " companions," such as Ammar bin Yasir Kho- 

 zeymeh bin Thabib (Tbe-Shaha detein) Mahommed and Abdullah bin 

 Mesud, Hadifeh bin-el- Yemon, Ma-ath bin Hebl, Abd-er-Rhman-bin 'Owfj 

 Selman the Persian, Bilat the Abyssinian, Sahib the Greek and 'Aisheh 

 mother of the Faithful. Also from the accepted and well approved Khali- 

 fehs Abu Bekr and 'Omar, the companions of the Flight, and the Ansars or 

 co-adjutors, may God be pleased with them all. 



'Abdullah bin Ibadh confuted the several fallacies in the doctrines of 

 the various heretical sects, which have been shewn in a previous part of this 

 work. He taught that Faith (I'man) consists both in word and deedff and 

 in following the precepts of traditional Law. 



In this religion there is no sanction excusing any shortcoming in 

 respect of it. Nor is it permitted falsely to avow it. Nor to give way to 

 the passions. For this religion recprires that the paths of righteousness be 

 followed, and also belief in the following, viz. : — 



* The first three are properly included in the general term of Khawarij. 



f From Jahm bin Safwan. 



X The Rafidhi is a sect of the Shi'ahs of El Kufeh, so called from having forsaken 

 one Zeyd bin Ali when he forbade them to speak against the companions of the 

 Prophet. The term is applied to those who abuse 'Omar and Abu Bakr. 



§ From A. D. 661 to A. D. 705. 



|| i. e. the Kharijites defeated by 'AH at Nahrawan A. H. 38. 



IT Where Ali encountered Mnwiyeh. 



** Where Ali encountered 'Aisheh. 



ft i. e. that what is confessed in words as right must also be acted on. 



