But for reasons that were mentioned, Shi'ism spread in Iraq.

But for reasons that were mentioned, Shi'ism spread in Iraq. This tendency is called an Alit and Shi'i tendency. Its weak degree involved the rejection of Uthman and affirmation of the caliphate of Imam 'Ali ('a), and in its most developed form it meant the affirmation of the Imamate of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib ('a) after the Messenger of God (s) and his superiority over other caliphs.

There were as well certain extremist tendencies that emerged during this period about whose exact extent and character there is a difference of opinion. [^90] Another trend that emerged and grew during this period was the Uthmanid tendency It emerged during the events of the Battles of the Camel and Siffin.

Although the protagonists of this trend faced a defeat during the Battle of the Camel, but its effects remained in Basrah, and the people of this city were known for their Uthmanid affiliations. [^91] Another branch of this trend came to dominate Syria (al-Sham) during the Umayyad era and it came to rule over Iraq. The rule of the Umayyads was an expression of the domination of the Uthmanid creed.

This creed did not acknowledge the legitimacy of the caliphate of Imam Ali (a), and its argument was that the third caliph was killed by the Imam or at his instigation. Moreover, it asserted that there was not a general consensus of the people about his caliphate. This belief was prevalent among the Uthmaniyyah, who were the prototypes of the latter-day Ahl al-Sunnah. During that era, the terms the Shiah and the Uthmaniyyah stood in contrast to one another.

The 'Uthmaniyyah believed that Mu'awiyah was the next legitimate caliph after 'Uthman. The basis of his legitimacy, as they claimed, was Mu'awiyah's kinship with Uthman and his claim to be the next of kin in this case of homicide (wali al-dam). [^92]The two cities of Basrah and Kufah with their Uthmanid and Shi'i inclinations were considered rival towns. Another interesting aspect of the Battle of the Camel was the greater prominence acquired by Shi'ism in contrast to the Uthmanid creed.

During the course of the battle, Amr ibn Yathribi, who killed Zayd ibn Suhan, a companion of the Imam, said that he had killed the latter in a state when he was an follower of "the creed of Ali" (din-i 'Ali). On the other hand, Ammar Yasir, addressing Amr, said these verses during that battle: O Son of Yathribi, I wilt not leave the field Until I fight you while I am on the creed of 'Ali. We and the House of God are nearer to the Prophet.