The word friendship is usually used for the Arabic word al-walayah, but to my mind, the word friendship does not give the full import of the word al-walayah as used in Ibadhi writings. It is a religious duty which controls human emotions of love and hatred in accordance with Islamic teaching. Realising this fact, the term 'al-walayah' is used in this study to convey the meanings: love, fraternity, unity among the Muslims and the duties related to these.

The other Arabic word, al-baraah, expresses the converse of al-walayah. It means to excommunicate. This term was used in Ibadhi writings to express the following:

1. The obligation to abuse and curse the infidel, (إيجاب الشتم واللعنة للكافر .)11

2. Hostility and enmity, 12(المنابذة والعدوة ).

3. Hatred in the heart and abuse by the tongue, (البغض بالقلب والشتم باللسان).13

4. Dissociation from the enemy and wrongful action initiated by him, and the belief in hatred towards him, (التبر ى من العدو وحدثه ، واعتقاد بغضه ).14

These two terms, al-walayah and al-baraah, were used by Ibadhis scholars to indicate the attitude of the believers towards their fellow Muslims and towards the infidels.

The third term connected with al-walayah and al-baraah is al-wuquf, 'reservation.' If a believer is not certain with regard to the deeds or faith of a person, he must abstain from passing judgement on him until he becomes sure of these; he must then arrive at a definite attitude towards him, either of walayah, or of baraah.15

According to some Ibadhi scholars, walayah is agreement in religion in respect of word and works.16 The person deserving walayah from the believers is he who is fully obedient to God, and who attains all good qualities through his performance of all religious duties, and through abstention from what is forbidden.17 Other scholars believe that the verbal agreement of a person with the Muslims is enough for him to deserve walayah.

This opinion was advanced by al-Salimi on the basis of the following Quranic verse. "O Prophet, when believing women come to thee upon the terms that they will not associate with God anything and will not steal, neither commit adultery, nor slay their children, nor bring a calumny they forge between their feet, nor disobey thee in aught honourable, ask God forgiveness for them; God