manifestation (zuhur), or defence (difa), neither in a state of the sacrifice of one's life (shira), nor in secrecy (kitman), but our time is undefined."2. On hearing this, his colleague Abu Zakariya Fasil b. Abi Miswar commented, "The stages of the Muslim community are four, whosoever increases or decreases them is in error."3 These stages (masalik) were defined very early by Ibadhi scholars. Ibadhi interpretation of Islamic history in its first fifty years demonstrates that the Muslim community went through the four stages, whether during the Prophet's lifetime or afterwards. The cycle of these stages was completed when the Umayyads took over and subjected the Muslim community to their rule. Under Umayyad rule, there was no chance for the true Muslims to propagate their views or to command well and prohibit evil; for any such attempt usually led to imprisonment or death. The alternative for true Muslims was to practise their activities in secret. The Ibadhi movement intended to revive the true religion, and had to start in secrecy (kitman) with the aim of going through the same experience as the first Muslim community towards the stage of manifestation (zuhur).

In the following pages a brief study of the stages of the Muslim community (masalik al-din) is undertaken.

MANIFESTATIONS (ZUHUR):

Zuhur means the proclamation of the independent Imamate. During the state of manifestation Ibadhis elect their own Imam, who should rule them according to the Qur'an, sunnah, and the example of the rightly guided Imams.4 This is the principle stage which must be maintained by Muslims. The Prophet died leaving the Muslims in the stage of manifestation (zuhur).5 It is obligatory for Muslims to maintain this state in order to execute the commands of God. Hadd punishments, the Friday prayers, the collection of zakat and protection tax (jizyah), fighting such enemies as Polytheists and rebels (al-bughat), the proper division of spoils and zakat, none of these obligations can be carried out without the authority of the Imam.6 Ibadhi scholars cite the Caliphates of Abu Bakr and Umar as examples of the stage of manifestation in early Islam.

Whenever Muslims attain satisfactory conditions of proper, wealth, and knowledge of religion, so that they can execute the commands of God, and when they number about half of the enemy around them, they must proclaim the Imamate and elect their own Imam from among their outstanding men.8 The Imam had to implement the orders of God as long as his followers numbered more than forty. If their number becomes less, he must proclaim the dissolution of the Imamate.9