[3] He moved to Kufa for his education, and in his youth supported the family of Ali ibn Abi Talib against the Umayyad Caliphate.

[7] It is narrated he refused to give to the caliphs moral and religious advice, and when asked why, he responded: "When the sea overflows, who can dam it up?

"[8] He was also quoted to have said to a companion of his, "Beware of drawing close and associating with the rulers; do not be deceived by being told that you can drive inequity away.

"[9] Al-Thawri's jurisprudential thought (usul al-fiqh), after his move to Basra, became more closely aligned to that of the Umayyads and of al-Awza'i.

The People of Knowledge of Allah (ahl al-ma`rifa billah) are strangers in the world and long for the hereafter.