The stance of `Ali radiya Llahu `anhu and the Ahl al-Bayt

The Stance of ‘Ali and the Ahlul bayt

Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu said:

سيهلك في صنفان محب مفرط يذهب به الحب إلى غير الحق ومبغض مفرط يذهب به البغض إلى غير الحق وخير الناس في حالا النمط الأوسط فالزموه والزموا السواد الأعظم فإن يد الله مع الجماعة

Two groups will be destroyed on account of me; those who will be extreme in their love for me, which will lead them to ascribe to me what I do not possess and others who will be extreme in their hatred towards me, which will lead them to ascribe to me what I do not possess. The best of people with regards to me are those who tread the middle path. Attach yourself to them and attach yourself to the majority, for verily the help of Allah is with the Jama’ah.^[1]

This is how Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala intended to divide the people regarding Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, i.e. into three groups.

The first group are those who harbour hatred and malice for him; they are those who criticise him and, in fact, some of them transgress the limits by declaring him to be a disbeliever, such as the Khawarij.

The second group are those who are so intense in their love for him that their love leads them to exaggeration until they equate him to a prophet. In fact, some even surpass this, ascribing divinity to him.

As for the Jama’ah (the majority), they are the Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama’ah, from the pious predecessors to the present day. They love ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and the Ahlul bayt in line with the Shari’ah and do so because of their nearness to the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu replied to the accusations of the first group and fought them, after debating with them bore no fruits—the details of which are well-known and can be found in the books of history. We now wish to study closely the position of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and his Ahlul bayt towards Ibn Sabaʼ and his followers.

After Ibn Sabaʼ announced his acceptance of Islam outwardly, portraying himself to be calling towards good and forbidding evil, winning the admiration of a few; he sought to draw closer to Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, expressing great love for him. After he gained confidence, he began fabricating and ascribing falsehood to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

Al Imam ‘Amir al Sha’bi (d. 103 AH) of the senior Tabi’in reports:

أول من كذب عبد الله بن سبأ وكان ابن السوداء يكذب على الله ورسوله وكان علي يقول مالي ولهذا الحميت الأسود يعني ابن سبأ وكان يقع في أبي بكر وعمر

The first to begin fabricating narrations was ‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ. He would ascribe falsehood to Allah and the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. ‘Ali would say, “What relation do I have with this wicked black man (referring to Ibn Sabaʼ).” He would speak ill of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar.^[2]

Ibn ‘Asakir has reported that when Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu learnt of Ibn Sabaʼ belittling Sayyidina Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu and Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu, he summoned him and then called for his sword so that he could behead him. However, others intervened and ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu said, “I swear by Allah, he cannot live in the same city as I.” So, he exiled him to al Mada’in.^[3]

Ibn ‘Asakir has also reported from al Imam Jafar al Sadiq (83-148 AH), who is considered to be the sixth Imam by the Shia, who reported from his pious forefathers on the authority of Jabir radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

لما بويع علي رضي الله عنه خطب الناس فقام إليه عبد الله بن سبأ فقال له أنت دابة الأرض فقال له اتق الله فقال له أنت الملك فقال اتق الله فقال له أنت خلقت الخلق وبسطت الرزق فأمر بقتله فاجتمعت الرافضة فقالت دعه وانفه إلى ساباط المدائن فإنك إن قتلته بالمدينة يعني الكوفة خرج أصحابه علينا وشيعته فنفاه إلى ساباط المدائن فثم القرامطة والرافضة

When ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was given the pledge of allegiance, he addressed the people. ‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ stood up and said to ‘Ali, “You are the Dabbat al Ard.”

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu exhorted him, “Fear Allah!”

Ibn Sabaʼ said, “You are the king.”

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu again warned, “Fear Allah!”

Ibn Sabaʼ continued, “You have created life and you distribute sustenance.”

On this, ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu ordered him to be executed but the Rawafid gathered and pleaded, “Let him be and instead exile him to Sabat al Mada’in; because if you kill him in Kufah, then his companions will protest against us.”

So, ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu exiled him to Sabat al Mada’in, from where the Qaramitah and Rawafid later emerged.

On account of the tireless efforts of Ibn Sabaʼ, a headquarters for the movement was finally established.

Jabir radiya Llahu ‘anhu then said:

ثم قامت إليه طائفة وهم السبئية وكانوا أحد عشر رجلا فقال ارجعوا فإني علي بن أبي طالب أبي مشهور وأمي مشهورة وأنا ابن عم محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا لا نرجع دع داعيك فأحرقهم في النار وقبورهم في صحراء أحد عشر مشهورة فقال من بقي ممن لم يكشف رأسه منهم علينا أنه إله واحتجوا بقول ابن عباس لا يعذب بالنار إلا خالقها

A group, comprising of eleven men, then confronted ‘Ali and they were the followers of Ibn Sabaʼ. ‘Ali said to them, “Retract! Indeed, I am ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. My father and my mother are well-known and I am the cousin of the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”

They submitted, “We will not retract; you abandon these demands.”

So, ‘Ali had them all burnt and their eleven graves are in the desert. Those of them who remained alive, who did not reveal themselves to us, began saying ‘Ali is the deity. They substantiated their claim with the narration of Ibn ‘Abbas, “Only the creator of the fire may punish with it.”^[4]

This is the stance of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu towards ‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ and his followers, exiling him to al Mada’in and burning a group of his followers.

Whoever is not satisfied with these narrations, some of which have been reported by the ‘infallible’ Imams, choosing to deny them audaciously and obstinately, we will quote for them the reports of this incident as recorded in authentic books of the Ahlus Sunnah as well as those reported by the Shia.

Al Imam al Bukhari has reported in his al Sahih, with his chain of narration from ‘Ikrimah:

أن عليا رضي الله عنه حرق قوما فبلغ ابن عباس فقال لو كنت أنا لم أحرقهم لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لا تعذبوا بعذاب الله ولقتلتهم كما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم من بدل دينه فاقتلوه

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu burnt a group of people. The news of this reached Ibn ‘Abbas who said, “Had it been me, I would not have burnt them, as the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam instructed, ‘Do not punish with the punishment of Allah,’ but I would have definitely executed them because the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ordered, ‘Whoever forsakes his religion, execute him.’”^[5]

Al Imam al Bukhari has also reported in his al Sahih, with his chain of narration to ‘Ikrimah, similar to the above with a slight variation:

أتي علي رضي الله عنه بزنادقة فأحرقهم

A group of heretics were brought to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and he had them burnt alive.^[6]

The same has been reported by al Imam Abu Dawood in his al Sunan with his chain of narration to ‘Ikrimah with a slight variation in wording. At the end of the narration, it is reported that the statement of Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma reached ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu who remarked, “May Allah have mercy on Ibn ‘Abbas.”^[7] The same has been reported by al Imam al Nasa’i in his al Sunan.^[8]

Al Imam al Tirmidhi reports this in his al Jami’. At the end of the narration, he reports: News of this reached ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu who said, “Ibn ‘Abbas is correct.” He then comments on its authenticity saying it is hasan sahih (sound and authentic) and that it is practiced upon by the scholars.^[9]

Al Imam al Bukhari has narrated in his al Sahih with his chain of narration to ‘Ikrimah similar to the above, stating that a group of heretics were brought to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and he had them all burnt alive.^[10]

Al Tabarani has reported in his al Mu’jam al Awsat on the authority of Suwaid ibn Ghafalah:

أن عليا بلغه أن قوما ارتدوا عن الإسلام فبعث إليهم فأطعمهم ثم دعاهم إلى الإسلام فأبوا فحفر حفيرة ثم أتي بهم فضرب أعناقهم ورماهم فيها ثم ألقى عليهم الحطب فأحرقهم ثم قال صدق الله ورسوله

‘Ali learnt of a group who had forsaken Islam. He summoned them. He fed them and then invited them to return to Islam, but they refused. He had a trench dug and brought them forward. He then severed their heads and threw them inside. He ordered wood to be thrown on top of their bodies and they were all burnt. He then said, “Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth.”^[11]

In the third part of the hadith of Abu Tahir al Mukhallis, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Sharik al ‘Amiri from his father, it is reported:

قيل لعلي إن هنا قوما على باب المسجد يدعون أنك ربهم فدعاهم فقال لهم ويلكم ما تقولون قالوا أنت ربنا وخالقنا ورازقنا فقال ويلكم إنما أنا عبد مثلكم آكل كما تأكلون وأشرب كما تشربون إن أطعت الله أثابني إن شاء وإن عصيته خشيت أن يعذبني فاتقوا الله وارجعوا فأبوا فلما كان الغد غدوا عليه فجاء قنبر فقال قد والله رجعوا يقولون ذلك الكلام فقال أدخلهم فقالوا كذلك فلما كان الثالث قال لئن قلتم ذلك لأقتلنكم بأخبث قتلة فأبوا إلا ذلك فقال يا قنبر ائتني بفعلة معهم مرورهم فخد لهم أخدودا بين باب المسجد والقصر وقال احفروا فأبعدوا في الأرض وجاء بالحطب فطرحه بالنار في الأخدود وقال إني طارحكم فيها أو ترجعوا فأبوا أن يرجعوا فقذف بهم حتى إذا احترقوا قال إني إذا رأيت أمرا منكرا أوقدت ناري ودعوت قنبرا

‘Ali was told about a group of people standing at the door of the Masjid, claiming that he was their lord. ‘Ali summoned them and admonished, “Woe to you! What are you saying?”

They claimed, “You are our lord, our creator, and our sustainer.”

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu remarked, “Woe to you! I am but a slave like yourselves; I eat as you do and I drink as you do. If I obey Allah, then He will reward me if He wishes, and if I disobey Him, then I fear that He will punish me. Fear Allah and return (to Islam).”

They refused to repent.

They came the following day again and Qambar arrived, who said, “By Allah, they have returned, saying the same.”

‘Ali ordered them to sit before him and he spoke to them as he had the previous day.

On the third day, he told them, “If you make these claims again, I will kill you in a most ruthless manner.”

However, they refused to repent.

‘Ali then ordered, “O Qambar! Summon for me a few labourers with their shovels and dig for them a trench between the door of the Masjid and the palace.”

‘Ali continued, “Dig deep into the earth.”

Wood was then brought and a fire lit in the trench. ‘Ali threatened them, “Return (to Islam) or I will throw you into it.”

They still refused and they were all thrown into it and burnt to death, upon which ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu said, “When I see an evil act being carried out, I light a fire and call for Qambar.”

Al Hafiz Ibn Hajar has said that this hadith is hasan (sound).^[12]

In addition to the above-mentioned narrations, al Kulayni reported in his al Kafi, which is the equivalent of Sahih al Bukhari to the Shia, with his chain of narration to al Imam Jafar:

أتي قوم أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقالوا السلام عليك يا ربنا فاستتابهم فلم يتوبوا فحفر لهم حفيرة وأوقد فيها نارا وحفر حفيرة أخرى إلى جانبها وأفضى ما بينهما فلما لم يتوبوا ألقاهم في الحفيرة وأوقد في الحفيرة الأخرى نارا حتى ماتوا

A group of people came to Amir al Mu’minin ‘alayh al Salam and said to him, “Peace be upon you, O our lord!”

‘Ali urged them to repent but they did not.

‘Ali had a trench dug and a fire lit in it. He then had another dug adjacent to it, linking the two. When they did not repent, he threw them into the trench and lit a fire in the other, until they died.^[13]

Al Mamaqani, who is above all scrutiny to the Shia, has reported a few narrations defaming the extremists, amongst whom are the followers of Ibn Sabaʼ.

بينا علي (ع) عند امرأته عن عترة وهي أم عمر إذا أتاه قنبر فقال إن عشرة نفر بالباب يزعمون أنك ربهم فقال أدخلهم قال فدخلوا عليه فقال ما تقولون فقالوا نقول إنك ربنا وأنت الذي خلقتنا وأنت الذي رزقتنا فقال لهم ويلكم لا تفعلوا إنما أنا مخلوق مثلكم فأبوا فقال لهم ويلكم ربي وربكم الله ويلكم توبوا وارجعوا فقالوا لا نرجع عن مقالتنا أنت ربنا ترزقنا وأنت خلقتنا فقال قنبر ائتني بالفعلة فخرج قنبر فأتاه بعشرة رجال مع الزيل والمرور فأمرهم أن يحفروا لهم في الأرض فلما حفروا أخدودا أمر بالحطب والنار فطرح فيه حتى صار نارا تتوقد قال لهم توبوا قالوا لا نرجع فقذف علي بعضهم ثم قذف بقيتهم في النار قال علي إني إذا أبصرت شيئا منكرا أوقدت نارا ودعوت قنبرا

When ‘Ali ‘alayh al Salam was with his wife, the mother of ‘Umar, Qambar arrived and said, “There are ten people at the door who claim that you are their lord.”

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu instructed him to allow them to enter. When they entered, ‘Ali questioned them about what they had been saying and they replied, “We say that you are our lord. It is you who has created us and it is you who sustains us.”

‘Ali admonished, “Woe to you all! Do not say this; I am but a creation and the same as you all.”

They refused to listen and ‘Ali again said, “My deity and your deity is Allah. Woe to you! Repent and return (to Islam).”

They said, “We will not return. You are our lord, who sustains us and who has created us.”

‘Ali called, “Qambar! Summon for me a few labourers.”

So, Qambar left and returned with ten men carrying their shovels. ‘Ali ordered them to dig into the earth and once they had completed digging a few trenches, ‘Ali ordered them to fill them with wood and light a fire in them. Once the fire was ablaze, ‘Ali said to them, “Repent!” but they replied, “We will not!”

‘Ali threw them one after the other into the fire, after which he recited, “When I see an evil act being carried out, I light a fire and call upon Qambar.”^[14]

It appears that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu issued this punishment to others as well, viz. the people of Zutt.

Al Imam al Nasa’i has reported in his al Sunan on the authority of Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

أن عليا أتي بناس من الزط يعبدون وثنا فأحرقهم قال ابن عباس إنما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من بدل دينه فاقتلوه

A few people from Zutt, who worshipped idols, were brought to ‘Ali and he had them burnt alive. Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Whoever forsakes Islam, execute him.”^[15]

Ibn Abi Shaybah has reported the same hadith on the authority of Qatadah, regarding which al Hafiz Ibn Hajar remarked, “There is a break in its chain.” He also adds, “If this is proven, then it refers to another incident.”

Ibn Abi Shaybah has reported from Ayyub, who reported from No’man:

شهدت عليا في الرحبة فجاءه رجل فقال إن هنا أهل بيت لهم وثن في دار يعبدونه فقام يمشي إلى الدار فأخرجوا إليه بمثال رجل قال فألهب عليهم الدار

I witnessed ‘Ali in al Rahbah (an open area in Kufah where ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib would address people). A man approached him and said, “There are a few people in this house who worship an idol that they have placed there.” ‘Ali walked to the house and discovered that it was true. ‘Ali ordered the house to be burnt upon them.^[16]

Al Kashshi has reported in his book, Ma’rifah Akhbar al Rijal, after the biography of ‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ, under the heading, “Seventy people of Zutt who claimed divinity for ‘Ali,” with his chain of narration to al Imam al Baqir:

إن عليا عليه السلام لما فرغ من قتال أهل البصرة أتاه سبعون رجلا من الزط فسلموا عليه وكلموه بلسانهم فرد عليهم بلسانهم وقال لهم إني لست كما قلتم أنا عبد الله مخلوق قال فأبوا عليه وقالوا له أنت أنت هو فقال لهم لئن لم ترجعوا عما قلتم في وتتوبوا إلى الله تعالى لأقتلنكم قال فأبوا أن يرجعوا أو يتوبوا فأمر أن يحفر لهم آبارا فحفرت ثم خرق بعضها إلى بعض ثم قذفهم فيها ثم طم رؤوسها ثم ألهب النار في البئر منها ليس فيها أحد فدخل الدخان عليهم فماتوا

After ‘Ali ‘alayh al Salam completed fighting against the people of Basrah, seventy people from Zutt came to him. They greeted him and spoke to him in their language and he replied to them in their language. He said to them, “I am not what you claim me to be; I am a servant of Allah whom He has created.”

However, they refused to accept his argument and said, “You are indeed Him.”

‘Ali warned them, “If you do not refrain from what you say about me and repent to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, I will have you all executed.”

They still refused to refrain from this and repent, so ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu had a number of trenches dug, linking one to the other, and flung them into it. He sealed the top of the trench and a lit a fire at the end of one of the trenches in which none of them were, causing the smoke to fill the other trenches and suffocate them all.

It is reported in Bihar al Anwar, quoting the book Manaqib Al Abi Talib:

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu had trenches dug and a fire lit in it. Qambar lifted each of them by their shoulders and flung them into the fire. ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu said:

أوقدت نارا ودعوت قنبرا	إني إذا أبصرت أمرا منكرا
وقنبر يحطم حطما منكرا	ثم احترفت حفرا فحفرا

When I see an evil act being carried out.

I light a fire and call upon Qambar.

I then set each of the trenches alight.

And Qambar throws firewood upon them.

Ibn Shahrashub commented on this narration:

ثم أحيا ذلك رجل اسمه محمد بن نصير النميري البصري زعم أن الله تعالى لم يظهره إلا في هذا العصر وإنه علي وحده فالشرذمة النصيرية ينتمون إليه وهم قوم إباحية تركوا العبادات والشرعيات واستحلت المنهيات والمحرمات ومن مقالهم أن اليهود على الحق ولسنا منهم وإن النصارى على الحق ولسنا منهم

These beliefs were later revived by Muhammad ibn Nusayr al Namiri al Basri, who claimed that Allah did not manifest Himself except in that era and He is none other than ‘Ali. This is the person to whom the Nusayriyyah sect ascribes themselves. The Nusayriyyah are a sect who permit everything, discard worship and the laws of the Shari’ah, and legitimise that which is prohibited and unlawful in the Shari’ah. They also say, “The Jews are upon the truth but we are not with them and the Christians are upon the truth but we are not with them.”^[17]

It is only appropriate for us to mention another incident while discussing ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu burning the followers of Ibn Sabaʼ and those who forsook Islam, which has been reported by Ibn Abi al Hadid in his commentary on Nahj al Balaghah:

إن علي عليه السلام مر بقوم وهم يأكلون فى شهر رمضان نهارا فقال أسفر أم مرضى قالوا لا ولا واحدة منها قال فمن أهل الكتاب أنتم فتعصمكم الذمة والجزية قالوا لا قال فما بال الأكل فى نهار رمضان فقاموا إليه فقالوا أنت أنت يومئون إلى ربوبيته فنزل عليه السلام عن فرسه فألصق خده بالأرض وقال ويلكم إنما أنا عبد من عبيد الله فاتقوا الله وارجعوا إلى الإسلام فأبوا فدعاهم مرارا فأقاموا على كفرهم فنهض إليه وقال شدوهم وثاقا وعلي بالفعلة والنار والحطب ثم أمر بحفر بئرين فحفرتا فجعل إحداهما سربا والأخرى مكشوفة وألقى الحطب فى المكشوفة وفتح بينهما فتحا وألقى النار فى الحطب فدخن عليهم وجعل يهتف بهم ويناشدهم ليرجعوا إلى الإسلام فأبوا فأمر بالحطب والنار فألقي عليهم فأحرقوا فقال الشاعر لترم بي المنية حيث شائت إذا لم ترمني فى الحفرتين إذا ما حشنا حطبا بنار فذاك الموت نقدا غير دين فلم يبرح عليه السلام حتى صاروا حمما

‘Ali ‘alayh al Salam passed by a group of people who were eating in the month of Ramadan during the day. He asked them, “Are you travellers or ill?”

They replied that they were neither of the two.

He asked them if they were from the Ahl al Kitab, under the protection of Jizyah, and again they replied that they were not.

‘Ali then enquired, “So, why are you eating during the day in Ramadan?”

They walked towards him and said, “You are, You are,” suggesting that he was their lord.

So, ‘Ali dismounted from his horse and placed his cheek on the ground. He then said, “Woe to you! I am but a servant from the servants of Allah. Fear Allah and return to Islam.”

They refused to do so and ‘Ali repeated this a number of times but they remained adamant upon their disbelief. ‘Ali went towards them and ordered, “Bind them in shackles and bring for me labourers, fire, and wood.” He then ordered two trenches to be dug; one closed and the other open. Wood was thrown into the open one and a tunnel dug, linking the two. The wood was then set alight, causing the smoke to engulf them. ‘Ali called out to them, advising them to return to Islam but they refused. So, ‘Ali ordered wood to be thrown upon them also and they were burnt. A poet said:

Fate may cast at me whatever it desires.

As long as it does not cast me in the two trenches.

Where we set alight the firewood.

That will be instant death with no respite.

‘Ali did not leave from there until they were burnt to ash.^[18]

These are the narrations we find reported from amongst the authentic and sound reports and historical narrations, as well as from the books of the Shia, whether they be on ‘Aqidah, Fiqh, narrator biographies, or History; all of which prove with certainty that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu had a group of renegades who believed him to be the lord burnt alive, amongst whom were the followers of the accursed, Ibn Sabaʼ.

As for Ibn Sabaʼ, the narrations of both the Ahlus Sunnah and the Shia confirm that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu sufficed with exiling him to al Mada’in after the Rawafid interceded for him.

Al Nawbakhti writes in his book, Firaq al Shia, under the biography of Ibn Sabaʼ:

وكان ممن أظهر الطعن على أبي بكر وعمر وعثمان والصحابة وتبرأ منهم وقال إن عليا عليه السلام أمره بذلك فأخذه علي فسأله عن قوله هذا فأقر به فأمر بقتله فصاح الناس عليه يا أمير المؤمنين أتقتل رجلا يدعو إلى حبكم أهل البيت وإلى ولايتك والبراءة من أعدائك فصيره إلى المدائن

He was amongst those who expressed hatred towards Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, and the Sahabah; absolving himself from them. He would say that he has been commanded to do so by ‘Ali ‘alayh al Salam. ‘Ali ‘alayh al Salam captured him and interrogated him about his beliefs, to which he confessed. ‘Ali ‘alayh al Salam ordered him to be killed but people objected, “O Amir al Mu’minin! Will you kill a person who calls towards loving you, the Ahlul bayt, and towards your authority, as well as dissociation from your enemies?” So, ‘Ali exiled him to al Mada’in.^[19]

NEXT⇒ Ibn Sabaʼ Propagates his Beliefs in al Mada’in

^[1] Sharh Nahj al Balaghah, 2/306.

^[2] Tarikh Dimashq; Tahdhib Tarikh Dimashq, 7/430.

^[3] Ibid.

^[4] Ibid.

^[5] Sahih al Bukhari, chapter on Jihad, section entitled: Do not punish with the punishment of Allah, Hadith: 3017.

^[6] Sahih al Bukhari ma’a Fath al Bari, 6/151, chapter on urging those who forsake their religion to repent and fighting against them, Hadith: 6922.

^[7] Sunan Abi Dawood, chapter on punishments, section on the ruling for those who forsake Islam, Hadith: 4351.

^[8] Sunan al Nasa’i, 5/105, Hadith: 4060.

^[9] Jami’ al Tirmidhi, 4/59, chapter on punishments, section on what has been reported regarding those who forsake Islam, Hadith: 1458.

^[10] Sahih al Bukhari ma’a Fath al Bari, 12/267, chapter on urging those who forsake Islam to repent, Hadith: 6922; al Nukat al Zaraf, 5/108; al Hakim: Tarikh al Naysabur.

^[11] Fath al Bari, 12/270, in the commentary of Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 6922.

^[12] Fath al Bari, 12/270, in the commentary of Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 6922.

^[13] Al Kafi, 7/257-259, chapter on punishments, section on the punishment for those who forsake Islam.

^[14] Miqbas al Hidayah, 3/89-90; Tanqih al Maqal.

^[15] Sunan al Nasa’i, 7/104, Hadith: 4065.

^[16] Fath al Bari, 12/270.

^[17] Ibn Shaharashub: Manaqib Al Abi Talib, 1/227; Bihar al Anwar, 25/285.

^[18] Sharh Nahj al Balaghah, 2/308-309.

^[19] Firaq al Shia, pg. 44; Qamus al Rijal, 5/463.

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