رسالة د. كهلان الخروصي

الجزء ١ · صفحة ٤٤

… Moreover، this work contains good evidence of how Ib~‡‚ leaders were watching events very closely. We see this in the emphasis of J~bir b. Zayd on attending al-Jum`a (Friday) prayer with al-™ajj~j،⁽¹⁾ his fatw~ regarding the acceptance of the gifts of governors⁽²⁾ and asking his fellows not to abandon or even weaken their relationships with him and with one another.⁽³⁾ The book contains a few but valuable traditions that show the success achieved by following this strategy to the extent that distinguished Ib~‡‚ personalities referred to J~bir in most of their religious matters، as in traditions [253]، [254]، [257] and [260]. This enabled them to consider every step they should take to maintain their relation with the mainstream and avoid any disruption to their movement.⁽⁴⁾ It seems that this purpose was the essential Ib~‡‚ priority at that time، along with the proper scholarly and religious preparation (tarbiya). Thus we find in the book (in tradition [296]) that they preferred not to become involved in the rebellion of `Abd al-Raˆm~n b. Muˆammad b. al-Ash`ath in 81/700⁽⁵⁾ .

(1) See traditions: [65]، [254]، [316].

(2) See tradition: [275].

(3) Tradition: [87].

(4) EI2، III، p.649، s.v. al-Ib~‡iyya.

(5) Most-though not all- Sunn‚ historians claim that all scholars and dignities in Basra have supported Ibn al-Ash`ath in his revolt، see for example: Ibn Kath‚r: al-Bid~yah wa l-nnih~yah، vol.9/37 (Egypt، Matba`at al-Sa`~dah، n.d.).

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