Shiite Groups in Imam Bāqir's and Imam Sādiq's Era

In Imam Bāqir's and Sādiq's era, there were five groups of the Shia. First, there were a group of people rejecting the first three Caliphs, before Imam 'Ali, and above all policies affiliated with 'Othman. They advocated the return of the political leadership of the Islamic society to Prophet Mohammad's Household, and believed that, under the Twelfth Shiite Imam, Mahdi, such an ideal will be materialised. The second group consisted of moderate and conservative Islamic jurisprudents, or foqha, such as Abān ibn Taghlab, Zorāra, and Aboo Baseer. Shiite theologians such as Qays Māsser, Hishām ibn Hakam and Momin formed the third group. The fourth category consisted of the extremists (the Ghalis) like Moghayrat ibn Saeed, Bayān ibn Sam'ān and, particularly, Abo al-Khattāb Asadi. Finally, there was a group of the extremists called Mofavvadha, who believed Imams do God's jobs on His behalf, though their power is contingent on God's power.