Nasb-and-the-Nawasib

The question might arise as to the reason why the Khawārij were completely
politically inactive, and as to why they did not openly participate in establishing
the Abbasid Rule despite them indirectly contributing, due to being an obstacle
in the way of the Umayyads from the beginning of their rule right up till the
end. 1
The primary reason for this was that it was very difficult to permeate the ranks
of the Khawārij, even though few attempts were made. 2 This is because they had
principles, beliefs and societies unique to themselves and thus it was not possible
for them to collaborate with those who were not their kind.
The Abbasids had found what they required in the Alawids because of the status
they enjoyed amidst people which they wanted to exploit in order to win their
sympathy without any difficulty. Added to this was exploiting their Shīʿah who
believed in obedience to them being compulsory and Imāmah being a mainstay
of their household. 3 Hence the Abbasids did not need to incite the emotions of
hatred in them against the Umayyads due to them existing already, but they only
needed to channel them towards serving their goals in ways which suited their
interests best.
And because it was known that the Alawids were not a tool of warfare by
themselves without but alongside their Shīʿah, it was impossible for them to
revolt for the establishment of the Abbasid Rule. Because according to them there
was no difference in terms of both this party (the Abbasids) and that party (the
Umayyads) not being worthy of the Khilāfah. Thus the Abbasid propagandists
1 Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī 4/302; al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah 10/29.
2 Al-Muntaẓam 7/276; Tārīkh Ibn Khaldūn 3/154.
3 Al-Maʿṣūmī says, “As for the lineages of the Ṭālibiyyīn most of them return to Ḥasan and Ḥusayn, the
sons of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib and Fāṭimah M, the grandsons of Rasūl Allah H, and to their brother
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah. Although ʿAlī I had other children; however, those who demanded
their right of Khilāfah and had fanatic followers who advanced their agenda in all directions were
these three, no one else.” Simṭ al-Nujūm al-ʿAwālī 4/123.
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