TABI'I

The Tābi‘ūn (Arabic: التابعون‎ "Followers") are the generation of Muslims who were born after the death of Muhammad but who were contemporary of the Sahaba "Companions". As such they played an important part in the development of Islamic thought and philosophy, and in the political development of the early Caliphate. In particular, they played a vital role in the split in the Islamic community between Sunni and Shia Muslims. To this day, interpretations of their behaviour and characters are highly controversial.