it. As for Abdullah b Yazid al-Fazari, the Nukkarite theologian, he approached the topic in the same way as Jabir b. Zaid and discussed only the question of addition and omission to or from the Qur'an101. The discussion of the creation of the Qur'an in Ibadhi circles took place in Oman first during the early decades of the third century H. al-Fadl b. al-Hawwari, (d.278 H.) said that Ibadhi Shaikhs among whom were al-Waddah b. Uqbah, Said b. Muhriz, Muhammad b. Hashim, Muhammad b. Mahbub, and others, met in a house in Dama in Oman and discussed the Qur'an; Muhammad b. Mahbub said, "I say that Qur'an is created." On hearing this, Muhammad b. Hashim became angry and said, "I shall go out of Oman and shall never stay in it." Ibn Mahbub thought that Ibn Hashim was referring to him so he said, "It is I, who must leave Oman, for I am a stranger in it"102.

However, it is reported that the same Shaikhs assembled together afterwards and Muhammad b. Mahbub recanted from his former attitude in order to avoid the split.103

According to Abu Ya'qub al-Warijlani, this question of the creation of the Qur'an was introduced to Muslims by Abu Sakin al-Disani of Persian origin, who came to Basrah for the purpose of corrupting the Muslim community; it was he who raised this question.104 This story reported by al-Warijlani may not be true, but it shows that such arguments which lead to conflict were not welcomed, and were not expected from Muslims.

Ibadhis held different views on this question. In Oman there were three views by leading scholars of the third century A.H.:

a) Those who maintained that the Qur'an is the word of God and it is not a quality of God, either of essence or of action. This view is held by Abu Ali Musa b. Ali (d. 230 A.H.) and others.

b) Those who did not come to any conclusive attitude on the question, but held that the Qur'an is the word of God and His revelation to Muhammad, and maintained that this is an issue upon which the Muslims may properly remain uninformed (mimma yasa'u jahluhu). This was the attitude of Muhammad b. Mahbub.

c) Those who rejected the view that the Qur'an is created and took the attitude of 'reservation' (wuquf) concerning those who maintain that Qur'an is created. This was the attitude of Sulaiman b. al-Hakam, al-Waddah b. Uqbah, Muhammad b. Hashim and others.105 The question remained an issue in which there was disagreement among the Ibadhis of the 'east' until a later date. Abu Ya'qub al-Warijlani (d. 750 A.H.) said that when he asked Ahmad al-Hadrami in Mecca about the Qur'an, he replied, "The people of Oman say that it is not created, the people of Sharaf Abad say that it is created, and as for us,