to discuss with him the matter of divine decree (al-qadar). They went to the house of Hajib and spent a long time in the discussion. The last words heard from Abu Ubaidah in that discussion were, 'Oh, Hamzah, about this I disagreed with Ghailan.' Then Hajib talked to Hamzah, for his respect for Hajib was greater than his respect for Abu Ubaidah. Hamzah said, 'I narrated this opinion from the Muslims (i.e. Ibadhis).' Hajib said, 'You did not meet anyone whom I did not meet, except Jabir b. Zaid; so, from whom did you learn this view?' 'From you', said Hamzah. Hajib said, 'I give up this view, so do as I did.' Hamzah said, 'Treat me gently and accept what I say; Whatever good visits you, it is of God, and whatever evil visits you is of yourself. So good (hasanah) is of God, and evil (sayiah) is of Man; and I say, "God charges no soul beyond its capacity." Hajib did not accept this from him, and Hamzah left the place. When Hajib did not accept this from him, and Hamzah left the place. When Hajib was asked about him he said, 'treat Hamzah gently.' Then, afterwards, they heard that Hamzah contacted the women and men of little knowledge to teach them his views, Abu Ubaidah ordered Hajib to call the members of the movement for a general meeting in which they were informed about the heresies of Hamzah. Hajib concluded the speeches in that meeting and said, 'Hamzah, Atiyyah, and al-Harith brought about heresies to us, so whomsoever offered them shelter, or received them, or sat with them, is suspected of disloyalty to us.' Abu Ubaidah declared baraah from them, and ordered that they must be in the state of baraah and they were expelled from the (majalis).120 Hamzah used to visit Halabiyah Umm Sa'idah; when she heard that the Ibadhis had forsaken him, she refused to receive him any more; so he left Basrah for al-Mawsil and Abu Mahfuz went out after him from one village to another warning the Muslims of him.121 The other case in the time of Abu Ubaidah was that of the youths who came to Abu Ubaidah and asked him about the case of a Christian who had not heard of the Prophet of Islam, and invited a Majian to Christianity. Abu Ubaidah asked them their opinion. Their reply was that the Christian who had not heard of the Prophet of Islam was a Muslim, and the Majian who agreed to follow him was an infidel;. Abu Ubaidah rejected their opinion but they insisted on it; so he declared 'baraah' from them. The youths came to Hajib with broken hearts asking him to save them, for Abu Ubaidah hastened to declare 'baraah' from them though they were just asking him about his opinion. Hajib told Abu Ubaidah that they repented, and arrangements were made for them to rejoin the (majalis).122

These rules were followed throughout the Ibadhi history so much that contrary opinions could not grow in the Ibadhi community. But consequently, a number of the adherents of this sect broke away from the original movement and formed their own groups.123

If the defection consisted of breaking away from the organisation and defaming