160. Ibid, 180; Ibn Khalfun, Ajwibah., 28

161. Jitali, op. cit, 180; Abu Sakin, Amir b. Ali al-Shammakhi, Idah., II, 46

162. Loc. cit

163. Jitali, op. cit., 180; Abu Sakin, Idah, II, 64

164. Loc. cit

165. Jitali, op. cit., 180

166. Loc. cit

167. Abu Sakin, Idah., Ms. II, 100

168. Shammakhi, Siyar., 122, 232

169. Ibid., 228; Wisyani, Siyar., 4

170. Coulson, A history of Islamic law., 235

171. Diwan al-ashyakh: K. al-ahkam., Ms. 48b. Jannawani, Ahkam., Ms. 7

172. Diwan: Ahkam., 48b; Musabi, Hashiyah ala al-Musarrih., Ms. 101b

173. Loc. cit., Diwan: Ahkam., 48b. For the question of the testimony (shahadah) Cf. Sulaiman b. Yakhlaf, Tuhaf., 52a; Warijlani, al-Adl., III, 87 ff., al-Qutb, Sharh al-Nil., Ms. 44a ff

174. Jitali, Qawaid., 19

CHAPTER VI

THE STAGES OF THE IBADHI COMMUNITY

(Masalik al-din)

Ibadhi scholars use the term (masalik al-din), literally, the ways of religion, as referring to the stages of their community in which the laws of shari'ah are to be carried out. They mention the following four states:

Manifestation (zuhur);

Defence (difa);

Sacrifice of one's life (shira);

The stage of Secrecy (kitman).1

Each stage has its rules and regulations, and all of them were experienced by Ibadhis throughout their history. All Ibadhi scholars agree that there are no stages other than these four. It is reported that Abu Bakr al-Zawaghi used to say at the sessions (majalis) which he held, 'We are not in a stage of