ABSTRACT
Between Muhammad's migration to Medina in 622 and his death in 632 he was able to build up a state of considerable power. A measure of the size of the state is that on an expedition towards Syria at the end of 630 Muhammad had 30,000 men behind him. Nevertheless, apart from the "false prophets" who inspired the revolts, known as the Ridda or "apostasy", from about 632 to 634, no theological element is discernible in the political conflicts within the Islamic state until just before the beginning of the Umayyad period. The two groups described are in fact the beginnings of the two great sects of the Shi'ites and the Kharijites. The Shi'ites derives their name from the fact that they are par excellence the "party", that is, of 'Ali. A theological factor first comes into contact with politics in certain disputes which took place among the followers of 'All.
