Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2070
The caliphate of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib
فَصْلٌ ( مُنَاظَرَةُ عَلِيٍّ ؓ لِلْخَوَارِجِ ) قَدْ تَقَدَّمَ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا، ؓ، لَمَّا رَجَعَ مِنَ الشَّامِ بَعْدَ وَقْعَةِ صِفِّينَ، ذَهَبَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَهَا اعْتَزَلَهُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ جَيْشِهِ، قِيلَ: سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ أَلْفًا. وَقِيلَ: اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا. وَقِيلَ: أَقَلُّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. فَبَايَنُوهُ، وَخَرَجُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَأَنْكَرُوا عَلَيْهِ أَشْيَاءَ، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، فَنَاظَرَهُمْ فِيهَا وَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا تَوَهَّمُوهُ مِنَ الشُّبْهَةِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ حَقِيقَةٌ فِي نَفْسِ الْأَمْرِ، فَرَجَعَ بَعْضُهُمْ، وَاسْتَمَرَّ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى ضَلَالِهِ حَتَّى كَانَ مِنْهُمْ مَا سَنُورِدُهُ قَرِيبًا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ. وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ عَلِيًّا، ؓ، ذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَنَاظَرَهُمْ فِيمَا نَقَمُوا عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى اسَتَرْجَعَهُمْ عَمَّا كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَدَخَلُوا مَعَهُ الْكُوفَةَ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ عَادُوا فَنَكَثُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَتَعَاقَدُوا وَتَعَاهَدُوا فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ عَلَى الْقِيَامِ بِالْأَمْرِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْيِ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ، وَالْقِيَامِ عَلَى النَّاسِ فِي ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَحَيَّزُوا نَاحِيَةً إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ: النَّهْرَوَانُ. وَفِيهِ قَاتَلَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ كَمَا سَيَأْتِي. عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عِيَاضِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْقَارِيِّ، قَالَ: جَاءَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ شَدَّادٍ، فَدَخَلَ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ - وَنَحْنُ عِنْدَهَا مَرْجِعَهُ مِنَ الْعِرَاقَ لَيَالِيَ قَتْلِ عَلِيٍّ - فَقَالَتْ لَهُ: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ شَدَّادٍ، هَلْ أَنْتَ صَادِقِي عَمَّا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُ ؟ تُحَدِّثُنِي عَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ قَتَلَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ. قَالَ: وَمَا لِي لَا أَصْدُقُكِ. قَالَتْ: فَحَدِّثْنِي عَنْ قِصَّتِهِمْ. قَالَ: فَإِنَّ عَلِيًّا لَمَّا كَاتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَحَكَمَ الْحَكَمَانِ، خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ ثَمَانِيَةُ آلَافٍ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ النَّاسِ فَنَزَلُوا بِأَرْضٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا: حَرُورَاءُ. مِنْ جَانِبِ الْكُوفَةِ، وَأَنَّهُمْ عَتَبُوا عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالُوا: انْسَلَخْتَ مِنْ قَمِيصٍ أَلْبَسَكَهُ اللَّهُ، وَاسْمٍ سَمَّاكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتَ فَحَكَّمْتَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ وَلَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ. فَلَمَّا أَنْ بَلَغَ عَلِيًّا مَا عَتَبُوا عَلَيْهِ وَفَارَقُوهُ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَمَرَ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ: أَنْ لَا يَدْخُلَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ قَدْ حَمَلَ الْقُرْآنَ. فَلَمَّا أَنِ امْتَلَأَتِ الدَّارُ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ النَّاسِ، دَعَا بِمُصْحَفِ إِمَامٍ عَظِيمٍ، فَوَضَعَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَجَعَلَ يَصُكُّهُ بِيَدِهِ، وَيَقُولُ: أَيُّهَا الْمُصْحَفُ، حَدِّثِ النَّاسِ ! فَنَادَاهُ النَّاسُ فَقَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا تَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ ! إِنَّمَا هُوَ مِدَادٌ فِي وَرَقٍ، وَنَحْنُ نَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا رُوِّينَا مِنْهُ، فَمَاذَا تُرِيدُ ؟ قَالَ: أَصْحَابُكُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا، بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ فِي امْرَأَةٍ وَرَجُلٍ: وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَابْعَثُوا حَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَحَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا إِنْ يُرِيدَا إِصْلَاحًا يُوَفِّقِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا [ النِّسَاءِ: 35 ]. فَأُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ، ﷺ، أَعْظَمُ دَمًا وَحُرْمَةً مِنَ امْرَأَةٍ وَرَجُلٍ، وَنَقِمُوا عَلَيَّ أَنْ كَاتَبْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ: كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَقَدْ جَاءَنَا سُهَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، ﷺ، بِالْحُدَيْبِيَةَ حِينَ صَالَحَ قَوْمَهُ قُرَيْشًا، فَكَتَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، ﷺ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ. فَقَالَ سُهَيْلُ: لَا أَكْتُبُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ. فَقَالَ: " كَيْفَ نَكْتُبُ ؟ ". فَقَالَ: اكْتُبْ بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، ﷺ: " فَكَتَبَ: هَذَا مَا صَالَحَ عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قُرَيْشًا. يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ: لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ [ الْأَحْزَابِ: 21 ] فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ، حَتَّى إِذَا تَوَسَّطْتُ عَسْكَرَهُمْ قَامَ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ: يَا حَمَلَةَ الْقُرْآنِ، هَذَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْرِفُهُ فَأَنَا أَعْرِفُهُ، هَذَا مِمَّنْ يُخَاصِمُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ بِمَا لَا يَعْرِفُهُ، هَذَا مِمَّنْ نَزَلَ فِيهِ وَفِي قَوْمِهِ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ [ الزُّخْرُفِ: 58 ]. فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَلَا تُوَاضِعُوهُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: وَاللَّهِ لَنُوَاضِعَنَّهُ، فَإِنْ جَاءَ بِحَقٍّ نَعْرِفُهُ لَنَتَّبِعَنَّهُ، وَإِنْ جَاءَ بِبَاطِلٍ لَنُبَكِّتَنَّهُ بِبَاطِلِهِ. فَوَاضَعُوا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ الْكِتَابَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَرَجَعَ مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ كُلُّهُمْ تَائِبٌ، فِيهِمُ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ، حَتَّى أَدْخَلَهُمْ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفَةَ، فَبَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى بَقِيَّتِهِمْ فَقَالَ: قَدْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا وَأَمْرِ النَّاسِ مَا قَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ، فَقِفُوا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ حَتَّى تَجْتَمِعَ أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ، ﷺ، بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَنْ لَا تَسْفِكُوا دَمًا حَرَامًا، أَوْ تَقْطَعُوا سَبِيلًا، أَوْ تَظْلِمُوا ذِمَّةً، فَإِنَّكُمْ إِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ فَقَدْ نَبَذْنَا إِلَيْكُمُ الْحَرْبَ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ [ الْأَنْفَالِ: 58 ]. فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ: يَا ابْنَ شَدَّادٍ فَقَتَلَهُمْ ؟ فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ مَا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى قَطَعُوا السَّبِيلَ، وَسَفَكُوا الدِّمَاءَ، وَاسْتَحَلُّوا أَهْلَ الذِّمَّةِ. فَقَالَتْ: آللَّهِ ؟ قَالَ: آللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَقَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ. قَالَتْ: فَمَا شَيْءٌ بَلَغَنِي عَنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ يَقُولُونَ: ذُو الثُّدَيِّ وَذُو الثُّدَيَّةِ ؟ قَالَ: قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ، وَقُمْتُ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْقَتْلَى، فَدَعَا النَّاسَ فَقَالَ: أَتَعْرِفُونَ هَذَا، فَمَا أَكْثَرَ مَنْ جَاءَ يَقُولُ: قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَسْجِدِ بَنِي فُلَانٍ يُصَلِّي وَيَقْرَأُ، وَرَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَسْجِدِ بَنِي فُلَانٍ يُصَلِّي. وَلَمْ يَأْتُوا فِيهِ بِثَبَتٍ يُعْرَفُ إِلَّا ذَلِكَ. قَالَتْ: فَمَا قَوْلُ عَلِيٍّ حِينَ قَامَ عَلَيْهِ كَمَا يَزْعُمُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ ؟ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. قَالَتْ: هَلْ سَمِعْتَ مِنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ ؟ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ لَا. قَالَتْ: أَجَلْ، صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ عَلِيًّا، إِنَّهُ كَانَ لَا يَرَى شَيْئًا يُعْجِبُهُ إِلَّا قَالَ: صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. فَيَذْهَبُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ يَكْذِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَيَزِيدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْحَدِيثِ. تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ أَحْمَدُ، وَإِسْنَادُهُ صَحِيحٌ، وَاخْتَارَهُ الضِّيَاءُ. فَفِي هَذَا السِّيَاقِ مَا يَقْتَضِي أَنَّ عِدَّتَهُمْ كَانَتْ ثَمَانِيَةَ آلَافٍ، لَكِنْ مِنَ الْقُرَّاءِ، وَقَدْ يَكُونُ وَاطَأَهُمْ عَلَى مَذْهَبِهِمْ آخَرُونَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ حَتَّى بَلَغُوا اثْنِي عَشَرَ أَلْفًا، أَوْ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ أَلْفًا، وَلَمَّا نَاظَرَهُمُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ رَجَعَ مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ، وَبَقِيَ بَقِيَّتُهُمْ عَلَى مَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ. وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فَذَكَرَ الْقِصَّةَ وَأَنَّهُمْ عَتَبُوا عَلَيْهِ فِي كَوْنِهِ حَكَّمَ الرِّجَالِ، وَأَنَّهُ مَحَا اسْمَهُ مِنَ الْإِمْرَةِ، وَأَنَّهُ غَزَا يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ فَقَتَلَ الْأَنْفُسَ الْحَرَامَ وَلَمْ يَقْسِمِ الْأَمْوَالَ وَالسَّبْيَ، فَأَجَابَ عَنِ الْأَوَّلَتَيْنِ بِمَا تَقَدَّمَ، وَعَنِ الثَّالِثَةِ بِأَنْ قَالَ: قَدْ كَانَ فِي السَّبْيِ أُمُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةُ، فَإِنْ قُلْتُمْ: لَيْسَتْ لَكُمْ بِأُمٍّ. فَقَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ، وَإِنِ اسْتَحْلَلْتُمْ سَبْيَ أُمِّكُمْ فَقَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ. قَالَ: فَرَجَعَ مِنْهُمْ أَلْفَانِ وَخَرَجَ سَائِرُهُمْ فَتَقَاتَلُوا. وَذَكَرَ غَيْرُهُ أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسِ لَبِسَ حُلَّةً لَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَنَاظَرُوهُ فِي لُبْسِهِ إِيَّاهَا، فَاحْتَجَّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ الْآيَةَ [ الْأَعْرَافِ: 32 ]. وَذَكَرَ ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ إِلَى بَقِيَّتِهِمْ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُنَاظِرُهُمْ حَتَّى رَجَعُوا مَعَهُ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ، وَذَلِكَ يَوْمَ عِيدِ الْفِطْرِ أَوِ الْأَضْحَى - شَكَّ الرَّاوِي فِي ذَلِكَ - ثُمَّ جَعَلُوا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ يُعَرِّضُونَ لَهُ فِي الْكَلَامِ، وَيُسْمِعُونَهُ شَتْمًا وَيَتَأَوَّلُونَ تَآوِيلَ فِي أَقْوَالِهِ. قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ، رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ: قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ لِعَلِيٍّ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ [ الزُّمَرِ: 65 ]. فَقَرَأَ عَلِيٌّ: فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَا يَسْتَخِفَّنَّكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ [ الرُّومِ: 60 ]. وَذَكَرَ ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ أَنَّ هَذَا الْكَلَامَ إِنَّمَا قَالَهُ وَعَلِيٌّ يَخْطُبُ، لَا فِي الصَّلَاةِ. وَذَكَرَ ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ أَيْضًا أَنَّ عَلِيًّا بَيْنَمَا هُوَ يَخْطُبُ يَوْمًا إِذْ قَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ فَقَالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ أَشْرَكْتَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ الرِّجَالَ وَلَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ. فَتُنَادُوا مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ: لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ، لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ. فَجَعَلَ عَلِيٌّ يَقُولُ: هَذِهِ كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ أُرِيدَ بِهَا بَاطِلٌ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ لَا نَمْنَعَكُمْ فَيْئًا مَا دَامَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ مَعَنَا، وَأَنْ لَا نَمْنَعَكُمْ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ، وَأَنْ لَا نَبْدَأَكُمْ بِالْقِتَالِ حَتَّى تَبْدَأُونَا بِهِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ خَرَجُوا بِالْكُلِّيَّةِ عَنِ الْكُوفَةِ وَتَحَيَّزُوا إِلَى النَّهْرَوَانِ، عَلَى مَا سَنَذْكُرُهُ بَعْدَ حُكْمِ الْحَكَمَيْنِ.
Translation
✧ Section (ʿAlī’s dispute with the Khawārij ؓ) It was mentioned earlier that when ʿAlī, ؓ, returned from Syria after the Battle of Ṣiffīn, he went to al-Kūfah. When he entered it, a group from his army separated from him. It is said: sixteen thousand, and it is said: twelve thousand, and it is said: fewer than that. They parted from him, rose against him, and objected to things against him. He sent ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbbās to them, and he disputed with them about those things and refuted what they imagined as specious arguments, which had no reality in the actual matter. Some of them returned, and some of them persisted in their error until there occurred from them what we shall recount shortly, if Allāh wills. It is said that ʿAlī, ؓ, himself went to them and disputed with them about what they held against him until he brought them back from what they were upon, and they entered al-Kūfah with him. Then they reverted and broke what they had pledged, and they made pacts and covenants among themselves to uphold commanding right and forbidding wrong, and to rise against people in that regard. Then they withdrew to a side, to a place called al-Nahrawān, where ʿAlī fought them, as will come. From ʿUbayd Allāh b. ʿIyāḍ b. ʿAmr al-Qārī, who said: ʿAbd Allāh b. Shaddād came and entered upon ʿĀʾishah—while we were with her upon his return from Iraq during the nights of ʿAlī’s killing—and she said to him: “O ʿAbd Allāh b. Shaddād, will you be truthful with me about what I ask you? You will tell me about those people whom ʿAlī killed.” He said: “And why would I not be truthful with you?” She said: “Then tell me about their story.” He said: “When ʿAlī wrote to Muʿāwiyah and the two arbiters arbitrated, eight thousand of the Qurʾān reciters rose against him and encamped at a land called Ḥarūrāʾ, on the side of al-Kūfah. They reproached him, saying: ‘You have stripped off a shirt that Allāh clothed you with, and a name that Allāh named you with. Then you went and arbitrated in the religion of Allāh, and there is no judgment except Allāh’s.’ When what they reproached him for and their parting from him reached ʿAlī, he ordered a caller to announce: ‘Let no one enter upon the Commander of the Believers except a man who has memorized the Qurʾān.’ When the house was filled with the Qurʾān reciters, he called for a large muṣḥaf and placed it before him. He began to tap it with his hand, saying: ‘O muṣḥaf, speak to the people!’ The people called out to him, saying: ‘O Commander of the Believers, what are you asking it about? It is only ink on paper, and we speak according to what we have related from it. So what do you want?’ He said: ‘These companions of yours who have gone out—between me and them is the Book of Allāh. Allāh, exalted is He, says in His Book concerning a woman and a man: ‘And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allāh will cause it between them’ [al-Nisāʾ: 35]. The community of Muḥammad, ﷺ, is greater in blood and sanctity than a woman and a man. And they objected to me that I wrote to Muʿāwiyah: ‘ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib wrote.’ Suhayl b. ʿAmr came to us while we were with the Messenger of Allāh, ﷺ, at al-Ḥudaybiyah when he made peace with his people Quraysh. The Messenger of Allāh, ﷺ, wrote: ‘In the name of Allāh, the Compassionate, the Merciful.’ Suhayl said: ‘I will not write “In the name of Allāh, the Compassionate, the Merciful.”’ He said: ‘How shall we write?’ He said: ‘Write “In Your name, O Allāh.”’ The Messenger of Allāh, ﷺ, said: ‘Write: This is what Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh has made peace upon with Quraysh.’ Allāh, exalted is He, says in His Book: ‘You have had a good example in Allāh’s Messenger for whoever hopes for Allāh and the Last Day’ [al-Aḥzāb: 21]. So he sent ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbbās to them. I went out with him, until when I reached the middle of their camp, Ibn al-Kawwāʾ stood up addressing the people and said: ‘O bearers of the Qurʾān, this is ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbbās. Whoever does not know him, I know him. He is one of those who dispute about the Book of Allāh with what they do not know. He is one of those about whom it was revealed concerning him and his people: “Nay, but they are a contentious people” [al-Zukhruf: 58]. So return him to his companion and do not argue with him about the Book of Allāh.’ Some of them said: ‘By Allāh, we will indeed argue with him. If he comes with truth we recognize, we will follow him; and if he comes with falsehood, we will rebuke him for his falsehood.’ So they debated with ʿAbd Allāh about the Book for three days. Four thousand of them returned, all repentant, among them Ibn al-Kawwāʾ, until he brought them into al-Kūfah to ʿAlī. Then ʿAlī sent to the rest of them, saying: ‘There has been of our affair and the people’s affair what you have seen. So stop wherever you wish until the community of Muḥammad, ﷺ, gathers between us and you: that you not shed forbidden blood, or cut off a road, or wrong a protected person. For if you do, we have declared war against you on equal terms. Surely Allāh does not love the treacherous’ [al-Anfāl: 58]. ʿĀʾishah said to him: ‘O Ibn Shaddād, did he kill them?’ He said: ‘By Allāh, he did not send against them until they cut off the road, shed blood, and deemed protected people lawful.’ She said: ‘By Allāh?’ He said: ‘By Allāh besides whom there is no god, that was so.’ She said: ‘What is this thing that has reached me from the people of Iraq, saying: “the one with the breast” and “the one with the little breast”?’ He said: ‘I saw it. I stood with ʿAlī over him among the slain. He called the people and said: “Do you recognize this one?” How many came saying: “I saw him in the mosque of Banū so-and-so praying and reciting,” and “I saw him in the mosque of Banū so-and-so praying.” They did not bring any definite knowledge by which he was known except that.’ She said: ‘What did ʿAlī say when he stood over him, as the people of Iraq claim?’ He said: ‘I heard him say: “Allāh and His Messenger have spoken the truth.”’ She said: ‘Did you hear him say anything else?’ He said: ‘O Allāh, no.’ She said: ‘Yes, Allāh and His Messenger spoke the truth. May Allāh have mercy on ʿAlī. He never saw anything that pleased him without saying: “Allāh and His Messenger have spoken the truth.” The people of Iraq go about lying about him and adding to him in the report.’ This is unique to Aḥmad, and its chain is authentic, and al-Ḍiyāʾ selected it. In this account there is what requires that their number was eight thousand, but from the Qurʾān reciters. Others may have agreed with them in their doctrine until they reached twelve thousand or sixteen thousand. When Ibn ʿAbbās debated them, four thousand of them returned, and the rest of them remained upon what they were upon. And from Ibn ʿAbbās, he mentioned the story and that they reproached him for his having appointed men as arbiters, and that he erased his name from the command, and that he fought on the Day of the Camel and killed forbidden souls and did not divide the wealth and captives. He answered the first two with what was mentioned earlier, and the third by saying: “Among the captives was the Mother of the Believers, ʿĀʾishah. If you say she is not your mother, you have disbelieved. If you deem it lawful to take your mother captive, you have disbelieved.” He said: Two thousand of them returned, and the rest of them went out and fought. Others mentioned that Ibn ʿAbbās wore a fine garment when he went out to them, and they debated with him about his wearing it. He argued against them with the words of the Exalted: “Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allāh which He has brought forth for His servants, and the good things of provision” [al-Aʿrāf: 32]. Ibn Jarīr mentioned that ʿAlī himself went out to the rest of them and kept debating with them until they returned with him to al-Kūfah, and that was on the day of the Feast of Breaking the Fast or the Feast of Sacrifice—the narrator was uncertain about that. Then after that they began to confront him in speech, make him hear abuse, and give interpretations of his words. Al-Shāfiʿī, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: A man from the Khawārij said to ʿAlī while he was in prayer: “If you associate others with Allāh, your work will surely fail and you will be among the losers” [al-Zumar: 65]. Then ʿAlī recited: “So be patient. Surely Allāh’s promise is true, and let not those who have no certainty make you impatient” [al-Rūm: 60]. Ibn Jarīr mentioned that these words were said while ʿAlī was giving a sermon, not in prayer. Ibn Jarīr also mentioned that while ʿAlī was giving a sermon one day, a man from the Khawārij stood up to him and said: “O ʿAlī, you have associated men in the religion of Allāh, and there is no judgment except Allāh’s.” Then they called out from every side: “No judgment except Allāh’s, no judgment except Allāh’s.” ʿAlī began to say: “This is a word of truth by which falsehood is intended.” Then he said: “You have against us that we will not prevent you from the fayʾ as long as your hands are with us, and that we will not prevent you from the mosques of Allāh, and that we will not begin fighting you until you begin it against us.” Then they departed entirely from al-Kūfah and withdrew to al-Nahrawān, as we shall mention after the arbitration of the two arbiters.
Grades by grader
No grade is recorded for this wording.