Question:

One of the innovators claimed that the well-known scholar Al-Mufid declared all people from Basra and Syria who rebelled against Imam Ali (a.) during his reign to be disbelievers. What was his actual statement, and what can we learn from the reports that reached the lovers of the Ahl-ul-Bait (a.)?

Answer:

As one might expect, the innovators are not able to properly quote Islamic scholars like Al-Mufid.

Abu Abdillah Al-Mufid writes: “The followers of the Imams (a.), those who proclaim Zaid Ibn Ali (a.) to be Imam and those who went out against Imam Ali (a.) agree that those among the people of Basra and Syria who broke their oath and inclined to the wrong, all of them are misguided infidels and cursed by their fighting the Commander of the Believers (a.) and therefore remain eternally in the fire.” [Awa’il-ul-Maqalat, page 42]

قال الشيخ أبو عبد الله المفيد رضي الله عنه: واتفقت الإمامية والزيدية والخوارج على أن الناكثين والقاسطين من أهل البصرة والشام أجمعين كفار ضلال ملعونون بحربهم أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام وأنهم بذلك في النار مخلدون

The intelligent man notices that Al-Mufid does not call all of the people “oathbreakers” and “wrongdoers”, but according to him they are only among the people. The scholar also uses expressions that the Qur’an itself associates it with disbelief and punishment:

“And among us there are those who are devoted to God; and among us there are those who are inclined to the wrong. Now those who are devoted to God strive for the right change. But those who incline to the wrong will be firewood for hell.” [Al-Jinn 72:14-15]

وأنا منا المسلمون ومنا القاسطون فمن أسلم فأولئك تحروا رشد وأما القاسطون فكانوا لجهنم حطبا

“But if they break their oaths and attack your faith after the conclusion of the contract, then fight against the imams of disbelief. For them there are no oaths. Perhaps they will stop.” [At-Tawbah 9:12]

وإن نكثوا أيمانهم من بعد عهدهم وطعنوا في دينكم فقاتلوا أئمة الكفر إنهم لا أيمان لهم لعلهم ينتهون

Ash-Sha’bi reported that Imam Ali (a.) said: “In Islam, the Imams of disbelief are five persons: Talhah, Az-Zubair, Mu’awiyah, Amr Ibn Al-As and Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari.” Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud reported something similar.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, Volume 32 page 335 Hadith 294]

روى الشعبي عن أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام أنه قال: ألا إن أئمة الكفر في الاسلام خمسه طلحة والزبير ومعاوية وعمرو بن العاص وأبو موسى الأشعري وأيضا قد روى مثل ذلك عن عبد الله بن مسعود

Muhammad Ibn Al-Husain reported that Imam Ali (a.) said: “By Allah, Mu’awiyah is no more cunning than I am, but he cheats and leads a debauched life. If I did not abhor cheating, I would be the most cunning of all people. But every deception is a debauchery, and every debauchery is an act of disbelief. Every deceiver will have a banner by which he will be recognized on the day of resurrection. By Allah, I cannot be made negligent by scheming, nor can I be weakened by violence.” [Nahj-ul-Balaghah by Ash-Sharif Ar-Radi, Sermon No. 200]

عن محمد بن الحسين بن موسى رضوان الله عليه أن أمير المؤنين عليه السلام قال: والله ما معاوية بأدهى مني، ولكنه يغدر ويفجر، ولولا كراهية الغدر لكنت من أدهى الناس، ولكن كل غدرة فجرة، وكل فجرة كفرة، ولكل غادر لواء يعرف به يوم القيامة والله ما أستغفل بالمكيدة، ولا أستغمز بالشديدة

Abu Hamzah Ath-Thumali reported that Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.) said: “Imam Ali (a.) is a gate that God has opened. The believer is the one who entered it, the disbeliever is the one who left it, and the one who neither entered nor left it is in the state of those about whom God says: “My will shall have judgement over them.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, volume 1 page 437 Hadith 8]

الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن الوشاء، عن عبد الله بن سنان، عن أبي حمزة قال: سمعت أبا جعفر عليه السلام يقول: إن عليا عليه السلام باب فتحه الله، فمن دخله كان مؤمنا ومن خرج منه كان كافرا ومن لم يدخل فيه ولم يخرج منه كان في الطبقة الذين قال الله تبارك وتعالى: لي فيهم المشيئة

Al-Fudail Ibn Yasar reported that Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.) said: “God appointed Imam Ali (a.) as a sign between Him and His creation. Believer is he who acknowledged him, disbeliever is he who denied him, and mistaken is he who was ignorant about him. He who designated anything with him is an idolater, and he who held fast to his patronage enters paradise.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, volume 1 page 437 Hadith 7]

الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن محمد بن جمهور قال: حدثنا يونس عن حماد بن عثمان، عن الفضيل بن يسار، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: إن الله عز و جل نصب عليا عليه السلام علما بينه وبين خلقه، فمن عرفه كان مؤمنا ومن أنكره كان كافرا ومن جهله كان ضالا ومن نصب معه شيئا كان مشركا، ومن جاء بولايته دخل الجنة

Muhammad Ibn Al-Husain reported that Imam Ali (a.) said: “You have brought ruin to a great number of people whom you have deceived with your deception, and you have thrown them into the waves of your ocean where darkness covers them and doubts over them. So they deviated from the direction, turned on their heels, turned their backs and relied on their noble descent, only the people of understanding returned. For they separated themselves from you after they had recognized you, and fled to Allah because of your help, when you charged them with difficulties and turned them away from their goal. And fear Allah, O Mu’awiyah, for your soul and remove from Satan the leading-string with which he directs you: for this world will be cut off from you, and the Hereafter is near to you, and peace (be with you).” [Nahj-ul-Balaghah of Ash-Sharif Ar-Radi, Letter No. 32].

عن محمد بن الحسين بن موسى رضوان الله عليه أن أمير المؤنين عليه السلام قال: وأرديت جيلا من الناس كثيرا، خدعتهم بغيك وألقيتهم في موج بحرك، تغشاهم الظلمات، تتلاطم بهم الشبهات ، فجاروا عن وجهتهم ونكصوا على أعقابهم، وتولوا على أدبارهم، وعولوا على أحسابهم، إلا من فاء من أهل البصائر، فإنهم فارقوك بعد معرفتك ، وهربوا إلى الله سبحانه من موازرتك إذ حملتهم على الصعب وعدلت بهم عن القصد فاتق الله يا معاوية في نفسك، وجاذب الشيطان قيادك فإن الدنيا منقطعة عنك، والاخرة قريبة منك ، والسلام

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.) reported that Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.) said: “Imam Ali (a.) did not ascribe idolatry or hypocrisy to the people fighting with him, but he said: “They are our brothers who rebelled against us.” [Wasa’il-ush-Shi’ah of Al-Hurr Al-Amili, Volume 15 Page 82 – 83 Hadith 10]

عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري في قرب الإسناد عن هارون بن مسلم، عن مسعدة بن زياد، عن جعفر، عن أبيه ان عليا عليه السلام لم يكن ينسب أحدا من أهل حربه إلى الشرك ولا إلى النفاق، ولكنه كان يقول: هم إخواننا بغوا علينا

Muhammad Ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.) reported that Imam Ali (a.) said to the people fighting with him: “We did not fight them because we declare them to be disbelievers and we did not fight them because they declare us to be disbelievers, but we saw ourselves in the right and they saw themselves in the right.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, volume 32 page 324 Hadith 297]

ابن طريف عن ابن علوان عن جعفر عن أبيه أن عليا عليه السلام كان يقول لأهل حربه: إنا لم نقاتلهم على التكفير لهم ولم نقاتلهم على التكفير لنا ولكنا رأينا أنا على حق ورأوا أنهم على حق

Muhammad Ibn Al-Husain reported that Imam Ali (a.) said: “The beginning of the matter between us was that we and the Syrians met, although it was clear that our Lord is the same, our Prophet is the same, and our invitation to Islam is the same. We did not want them to add anything in the belief in Allah and in the recognition of His Messenger, and they did not ask us to add anything either. There was a unity, except that we were divided over the blood of Uthman, and we had nothing to do with it! And we asked them to come and calm the situation in this regard, which was not done today, by putting out the burning calamity and calming the people until the situation stabilizes and gathers and we have gained strength and we can bring justice to the truth. But they replied that they wanted to judge it with stubbornness instead!And they refused until the war spread its wings, persisted, and its fire was kindled, and became hot. When he had bitten into us and also into them, and had clawed his claws into us as into them, they responded to what we had asked for, and we responded to what they had asked for, so we hastened to comply with what they had asked for until the proof became clear to them and no excuse remained for them. Thus did Allah save from ruin one of them who acted accordingly, but he who perseveres and continues in this way is he who twists the oath, whose heart Allah has blinded, and evil will circulate about his head.” [Nahj-ul-Balaghah of Ash-Sharif Ar-Radi, Letter No. 58]

عن محمد بن الحسين بن موسى رضوان الله عليه أن أمير المؤنين عليه السلام قال: وكان بدء أمرنا أنا التقينا والقوم من أهل الشام ، والظاهر أن ربنا واحد ونبينا واحد ، ودعوتنا في الإسلام واحدة ، لا نستزيدهم في الإيمان بالله والتصديق برسوله ، ولا يستزيدوننا: الأمر واحد، إلا ما اختلفنا فيه من دم عثمان ، ونحن منه براء ! فقلنا : تعالوا نداو ما لا يدرك اليوم بإطفاء النائرة، وتسكين العامة ، حتى يشتد الأمر ويستجمع ، فنقوى على وضع الحق مواضعه . فقالوا : بل نداويه بالمكابرة! فأبوا حتى جنحت الحرب وركدت ووقدت نيرانها وحمشت. فلما ضرستنا وإياهم ، ووضعت مخالبها فينا وفيهم ، أجابوا عند ذلك إلى الذي دعوناهم إليه ، فأجبناهم إلى ما دعوا، وسارعناهم إلى ما طلبوا ، حتى استبانت عليهم الحجة ، وانق طعت منهم المعذرة . فمن تم على ذلك منهم فهو الذي أنقذه الله من الهلكة ، ومن لج وتمادى فهو الراكس الذي ران الله على قلبه، وصارت دائرة السوء على رأسه

As for the reports circulating among the followers of the illegitimate imams, except for the narrative of Abdullah Ibn Umar, most of them are general statements, and the people who submit them are often unable to differentiate the intentions of those involved.

Yazid Ibn Al-Asamm reported that he asked Imam Ali (a.) about the murdered on the day of Siffin, whereupon he replied: “Our murdered and their murdered are in paradise and the matter is between me and Mu’awiyah.” [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah, Volume 15 Page 302 Hadith 39035]

حدثنا حدثنا عمر بن أيوب الموصلي، عن جعفر بن برقان، عن يزيد بن الأصم، قال: سئل علي عن قتلى يوم صفين، فقال: قتلانا وقتلاهم في الجنة، ويصير الأمر إلي وإلى معاوية

Al-Hasan Al-Basri reported that Al-Ahnaf Ibn Qais said: “I went to help Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.) and met Abu Bakrah. He said: “Where are you going?” I replied: “I want to help this man.” Abu Bakrah said: “Turn back, for I heard the Prophet Muhammad (s.) say: “When two Muslims meet with the sword, the murderer and the murdered are in the fire.” I said: “O Messenger of God, this is the murderer, but why the murdered?” He replied: “Because he sought to murder his companion.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 31]

حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن المبارك حدثنا حماد بن زيد حدثنا أيوب ويونس عن الحسن عن الأحنف بن قيس قال ذهبت لأنصر هذا الرجل فلقيني أبو بكرة فقال أين تريد قلت أنصر هذا الرجل قال ارجع فإني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول إذا التقى المسلمان بسيفيهما فالقاتل والمقتول في النار فقلت يا رسول الله هذا القاتل فما بال المقتول قال إنه كان حريصا على قتل صاحبه

Al-Hasan Al-Basri reported that Abu Bakrah said: “God made me benefit from a saying of the Messenger (s.) in the days of the battle of the camel. When the Prophet Muhammad (s.) received the news that the Persians had appointed the daughter of Kisra as queen, he said: “Never will the people be successful who give authority to a woman.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 6686]

حدثنا عثمان بن الهيثم حدثنا عوف عن الحسن عن أبي بكرة قال لقد نفعني الله بكلمة أيام الجمل لما بلغ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن فارسا ملكوا ابنة كسرى قال لن يفلح قوم ولوا أمرهم امرأة

Nafi’ reported from Abdullah Ibn Umar that a man came to him and said: “O father of Abd-ur-Rahman, do you not hear what God mentioned in His book: “And if two groups of believers fight each other, make peace between them. If one of them proceeds against the other in an unjust manner, fight against the one who proceeds in an unjust manner until they repent to the command of God. If they repent, make peace between them according to justice and act justly. God loves those who act justly. – 49:9 – What prevents you from fighting, as God mentioned in His book?” Abdullah Ibn Umar replied: “O son of my brother, it is better for me to incur guilt by this verse by not fighting than to incur guilt by another verse in which God says: “And whosoever willfully kills a believer, his reward is hell; in it he shall dwell forever. And God is angry with him and curses him and causes him a great pain.” – – 4:93 –Thereupon the man said: “But God also says: “Fight against them until there is no more deception and faith in God alone prevails! If they give up the fight, God will judge them accordingly, for He sees everything.” – 8:39 – Abdullah Ibn Umar replied: “This is what we used to do only during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (s.) when Islam had a small number of followers and a man was exposed to seduction because of his faith. Either he was killed or he was put in chains until Islam reached a larger number of followers so that there was no more seduction.” Now when he saw that Abdullah Ibn Umar did not agree with what he wanted, he asked: “What is your opinion about Ali and Uthman?” Abdullah Ibn Umar said: “My view on Uthman and Ali? As for Uthman,may God forgive him, but you do not like that God forgive him and as for Ali, he is the son of the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle (s.) and his brother-in-law. Then he pointed with his hand: “And this is his daughter, as you see.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 4373]

حدثنا الحسن بن عبد العزيز حدثنا عبد الله بن يحيى حدثنا حيوة عن بكر بن عمرو عن بكير عن نافع عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رجلا جاءه فقال يا أبا عبد الرحمن ألا تسمع ما ذكر الله في كتابه وإن طائفتان من المؤمنين اقتتلوا إلى آخر الآية فما يمنعك أن لا تقاتل كما ذكر الله في كتابه فقال يا ابن أخي أغتر بهذه الآية ولا أقاتل أحب إلي من أن أغتر بهذه الآية التي يقول الله تعالى ومن يقتل مؤمنا متعمدا إلى آخرها قال فإن الله يقول وقاتلوهم حتى لا تكون فتنة قال ابن عمر قد فعلنا على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ كان الإسلام قليلا فكان الرجل يفتن في دينه إما يقتلونه وإما يوثقونه حتى كثر الإسلام فلم تكن فتنة فلما رأى أنه لا يوافقه فيما يريد قال فما قولك في علي وعثمان قال ابن عمر ما قولي في علي وعثمان أما عثمان فكان الله قد عفا عنه فكرهتم أن يعفو عنه وأما علي فابن عم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وختنه وأشار بيده وهذه ابنته أو بنته حيث ترون