The following are the regulations of Shira as explained by Abu al-Abbas Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Bakr; " .... They, i.e. the Shurat, agree that they sell themselves desiring God's pleasure, and show no claim for ruling, but to end tyranny and revive righteousness. They must not revolt with less than forty men; they can complete the number with a woman. If their intention was not to return before ending falsity, batil), they, therefore, must not return to their homes unless they ended falsehood or died. If they went out with the intention to return if they wanted, they can return at any time. Their homes are their swords, so if they return to their original homes for any purpose, they must pray short prayers qasr and pray complete prayers during their revolt even though they were far away from their original homes."30

Shira the most commendable sort of Jihad in the absence of manifest Imam. In fact, Ibadhis used shira in some cases as a bridge for establishing the Manifest Imamate."31

The following are the main principles of Shira:

i. Shira is a voluntary duty for Ibadhis in general, and an obligation for those who imposed it on themselves.

ii. The minimum number of forty persons must carry it out.

iii. They must elect their leader among themselves. The authority of their leader is binding on his followers only.32

iv. Religious dissimulation, Taqiyah, does not behove the Shurat, they have to fight till they bring tyranny to an end or are killed.33 Some scholars say that they can return if only three of them were left.34

v. They have no home except the places where they gather to fight their enemies; if they return to their original homes to get supplies, or information, or for any other purpose, they must consider themselves travellers and pray short prayers (qasr) while in their original homes.

vi. They must not fight anyone except those who fight them, must not follow the defeated or kill the injured, must not kill old men, women, or children, and must not take any spoils or property unless they have a right to it.35 For instance, it is reported that Abu Bilal Mirdas and his followers, in their revolt, came across a caravan bringing spoils to the governor of Basrah, Ubaidullah b. Ziyad; Abu Bilal stopped the caravan, took the emolument for himself and his companions, and gave receipts for that.36

THE STAGE OF SECRECY (KITMAN):

Kitman means hiding one's beliefs. In this state the believers keep their beliefs