Member of the earliest Islamic sect, which emerged in the mid-7th century during conflicts over the succession of the caliphate (see caliph ).
The Kh 0101; rijites ("separatists") took sides against Al 012B; , the Prophet's son-in-law (whose followers later made up the Sh 012B; ite branch of Islam), and led a series of uprisings, assassinating 02BD; Al 012B; and harassing his rival Mu 0101; wiyah . They later caused further disruptions for the Umayyad caliphs. Their constant attacks on Muslim governments were based on their belief that the caliph should be chosen by the entire Muslim community. They called for a literal interpretation of the Qur 0101; n and were harsh and puritanical in the exercise of their religion. The movement's 02BD; Ib 0101; diyyah subsect survived into the 20th century in North Africa, Oman, and Zanzibar.