ABSTRACT
Up to the point the discussion has been of "heretical" sects, and the question naturally arises whether there was at this time a body of "orthodox" opinion and, if so, whether anything more can be said about it. Thus it is best in Islamic studies to avoid the term "orthodox" and to ask instead whether there was a central body of moderate opinion. Out of the discussions at Basra and elsewhere on the nature of the community and the conditions of membership there eventually arose a new sect, the Murji'ites. Thus the Murji'ites was first and foremost a party which supported the Umayyads on religious grounds; though they may not have had much enthusiasm for the Umayyads, they recognized the importance of law and order. Despite the general attitude of support for the Umayyad government it may be that towards the end of the period some Murji'ites felt that it had become intolerable and ought to be opposed.
