Shiism in Basra in the Early Muslim Centuries

MostafaSoltani Historical sources have often presented Basra as a Sunni cityand prevalently inclied towards Uthman in the eanly Muslimcenturies.The fact of the matter is , however, that Basra had only beenpartly Uthmanite and not wholly during those times. the use ofthe phrase Shiite of Ali in contrast to Shiite of Uthman in thedaily conversations of the Basri people at the time indicates thefact that shiites had been influential in the theo-political life ofthe city since the beginning.Hence, the history of shiism in Basrapractically dates back to the birth of that city though the shiiteswere considered as only one of the few religious minorities inBasra.Nevertheless, later in the fifth cemtury AH, the Shii thoughtexpanded and spread in Basra to the extent that it became thedominant religious persuasion in the city.