The Prophet ﷺ said: The Jews were split up into seventy-one or seventy-two sects; and the Christians were split up into seventy one or seventy-two sects; and my community will be split up into seventy-three sects.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوْ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفَرَّقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوْ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً  

Muʿawiyah b. Abi Sufiyan stood among us and said: Beware! The Apostle of Allah ﷺ stood among us and said: Beware! The people of the Book before were split up into seventy two sects, and this community will be split into seventy three: seventy two of them will go to Hell and one of them will go to Paradise, and it is the majority group. Ibn Yahya and ʿAmr added in their version : “ There will appear among my community people who will be dominated by desires like rabies which penetrates its patient”, ʿAmr’s version has: “penetrates its patient. There remains no vein and no joint but it penetrates it.”  

أَلاَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَامَ فِينَا فَقَالَ أَلاَ إِنَّ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ افْتَرَقُوا عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمِلَّةَ سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ ثِنْتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَهِيَ الْجَمَاعَةُ زَادَ ابْنُ يَحْيَى وَعَمْرٌو فِي حَدِيثَيْهِمَا وَإِنَّهُ سَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ تَجَارَى بِهِمْ تِلْكَ الأَهْوَاءُ كَمَا يَتَجَارَى الْكَلْبُ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو الْكَلْبُ بِصَاحِبِهِ لاَ يَبْقَى مِنْهُ عِرْقٌ وَلاَ مَفْصِلٌ إِلاَّ دَخَلَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this verse: “He it is who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are verses basic or fundamental . . . .” Up to “men of understanding”. She said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said: When you see those people who follow that which is allegorical in the Quran, those are the people whom Allah has named (in the Quran). So avoid them.  

قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ { هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ } إِلَى { أُولُو الأَلْبَابِ } قَالَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ سَمَّى اللَّهُ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: The best of the actions is to love for the sake of Allah and to hate for the sake of Allah.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الأَعْمَالِ الْحُبُّ فِي اللَّهِ وَالْبُغْضُ فِي اللَّهِ  

I heard Kaʿb b. Malik - the transmitter Ibn al-Sarh then narrated the story of his remaining behind from the Prophet ﷺ during the campaign of Tabuk - say: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the Muslims to speak to any of us three. When (in this state) abundant time passed on me, I ascended the wall of the garden of Abu Qatadah who was my cousin. I saluted him, but, I swear by Allah, he did not return salute to me. He then narrated the story of the revelation of the Qur’anic verses relating to his repentance.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ قَالَ وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ عَلَىَّ تَسَوَّرْتُ جِدَارَ حَائِطِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَىَّ السَّلاَمَ ثُمَّ سَاقَ خَبَرَ تَنْزِيلِ تَوْبَتِهِ  

I came to my family when my hands had cracks. They dyed me with saffron. I then went to Prophet ﷺ and saluted him, but he did not return me salutation. He said: Go and wash it away from you.  

قَدِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي وَقَدْ تَشَقَّقَتْ يَدَاىَ فَخَلَّقُونِي بِزَعْفَرَانٍ فَغَدَوْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ وَقَالَ اذْهَبْ فَاغْسِلْ هَذَا عَنْكَ  

The camel of Safiyyah daughter of Huyayy was fatigued, and Zainab had a surplus mount. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Zainab : Give her the camel. She said: Should I give to that Jewess? Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became angry and kept away from her during Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and a part of Safar.  

أَنَّهُ اعْتَلَّ بَعِيرٌ لِصَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ حُيَىٍّ وَعِنْدَ زَيْنَبَ فَضْلُ ظَهْرٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِزَيْنَبَ أَعْطِيهَا بَعِيرًا فَقَالَتْ أَنَا أُعْطِي تِلْكَ الْيَهُودِيَّةَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَهَجَرَهَا ذَا الْحِجَّةَ وَالْمُحَرَّمَ وَبَعْضَ صَفَرٍ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Controverting about the Qur'an is disbelief.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ الْمِرَاءُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ كُفْرٌ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Beware! I have been given the Qur'an and something like it, yet the time is coming when a man replete on his couch will say: Keep to the Qur'an; what you find in it to be permissible treat as permissible, and what you find in it to be prohibited treat as prohibited. Beware! The domestic ass, beasts of prey with fangs, a find belonging to confederate, unless its owner does not want it, are not permissible to you If anyone comes to some people, they must entertain him, but if they do not, he has a right to mulct them to an amount equivalent to his entertainment.  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَلاَ إِنِّي أُوتِيتُ الْكِتَابَ وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ أَلاَ يُوشِكُ رَجُلٌ شَبْعَانُ عَلَى أَرِيكَتِهِ يَقُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا الْقُرْآنِ فَمَا وَجَدْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ حَلاَلٍ فَأَحِلُّوهُ وَمَا وَجَدْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ حَرَامٍ فَحَرِّمُوهُ أَلاَ لاَ يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ لَحْمُ الْحِمَارِ الأَهْلِيِّ وَلاَ كُلُّ ذِي نَابٍ مِنَ السَّبُعِ وَلاَ لُقَطَةُ مُعَاهِدٍ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَغْنِيَ عَنْهَا صَاحِبُهَا وَمَنْ نَزَلَ بِقَوْمٍ فَعَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يَقْرُوهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْرُوهُ فَلَهُ أَنْ يُعْقِبَهُمْ بِمِثْلِ قِرَاهُ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Let me not find one of you reclining on his couch when he hears something regarding me which I have commanded or forbidden and saying: We do not know. What we found in Allah's Book we have followed.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ مُتَّكِئًا عَلَى أَرِيكَتِهِ يَأْتِيهِ الأَمْرُ مِنْ أَمْرِي مِمَّا أَمَرْتُ بِهِ أَوْ نَهَيْتُ عَنْهُ فَيَقُولُ لاَ نَدْرِي مَا وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ اتَّبَعْنَاهُ  

If any one introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected. Ibn ʿIsa said: The Prophet ﷺ said: If anyone practices any action in a way other than our practice, it is rejected.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ قَالَ ابْنُ عِيسَى قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَنْ صَنَعَ أَمْرًا عَلَى غَيْرِ أَمْرِنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ  

AbdurRahman ibn Amr as-Sulami and Hujr ibn Hujr said: We came to Irbad ibn Sariyah who was among those about whom the following verse was revealed: "Nor (is there blame) on those who come to thee to be provided with mounts, and when thou saidst: "I can find no mounts for you." We greeted him and said: We have come to see you to give healing and obtain benefit from you. Al-Irbad said: One day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in prayer, then faced us and gave us a lengthy exhortation at which the eyes shed tears and the hearts were afraid. A man said: Messenger of Allah! It seems as if it were a farewell exhortation, so what injunction do you give us? He then said: I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.  

أَتَيْنَا الْعِرْبَاضَ بْنَ سَارِيَةَ وَهُوَ مِمَّنْ نَزَلَ فِيهِ { وَلاَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ إِذَا مَا أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لاَ أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ } فَسَلَّمْنَا وَقُلْنَا أَتَيْنَاكَ زَائِرِينَ وَعَائِدِينَ وَمُقْتَبِسِينَ فَقَالَ الْعِرْبَاضُ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا فَوَعَظَنَا مَوْعِظَةً بَلِيغَةً ذَرَفَتْ مِنْهَا الْعُيُونُ وَوَجِلَتْ مِنْهَا الْقُلُوبُ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَأَنَّ هَذِهِ مَوْعِظَةُ مُوَدِّعٍ فَمَاذَا تَعْهَدُ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ عَبْدًا حَبَشِيًّا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ بَعْدِي فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ الرَّاشِدِينَ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهَا وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الأُمُورِ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ  

"Beware! The extremists perished," saying it three times.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ أَلاَ هَلَكَ الْمُتَنَطِّعُونَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ  

If anyone summons other to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without their rewards being diminished in any respect on that account; and if anyone summons others to follow error the sin of which sins being diminished in any respect on that account.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا وَمَنْ دَعَا إِلَى ضَلاَلَةٍ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الإِثْمِ مِثْلُ آثَامِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ آثَامِهِمْ شَيْئًا  

The Muslim who offends most against the Muslims is he who enquires about something which has not been forbidden to men, and it is declared forbidden because of his enquiry.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ جُرْمًا مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ أَمْرٍ لَمْ يُحَرَّمْ فَحُرِّمَ عَلَى النَّاسِ مِنْ أَجْلِ مَسْأَلَتِهِ  

Whenever he (mu’adh b. jabal) sat in a meeting for preaching, he would say: Allah is a just arbiter; those who doubt would perish. One day Mu’adh b. jabal said: In the times after you there would be trails in which riches would be abundant. During these trails the Quran would be easy so much so that every believer, hypocrite, man, woman, young, grown up, slave and free man will learn it. Then a man might say: What happened with the people that they do not follow me while I read the Quran? They are not going to follow me until I introduce a novelty for them other than it. So avoid that which is innovated (in religion), for whichever is innovated is an error. I warn you of the deviation of a scholar from right guidance, for sometimes Satan utters a word of error through the tongue of a scholar; and sometimes a hypocrites may speak a word of truth. I said to Mu’adh b. jabal: I am at a loss to understand may Allah have mercy on you that a learned man sometimes may speak a word of error and a hypocrite may speak a word of truth. He replied: Yes, avoid the speech of a learned man on distract you from him (the learned), for it is possible that he may withdraw (from these well-known things), and you get the truth when you hear it, for truth has light. Abu Dawud said: In this tradition Ma’mar on the authority of al-Zuhrl said: The words “wa la yun iyannaka” instead of “wa la yuthniyannaka,” with the same meaning: “it may not distract you” salih b. Kaisan on the authority of al-Zurhrl said in this tradition the words “al-mushtaharat” (well-know things). He also said the word “La yuthniyannaka” as ‘Uqail mentioned. Ibn ishaq, on the authority of al-Zuhri, said: Yes, if you are doubtful about the speech of a scholar until you say: WHAT did he mean by this word?  

أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ كَانَ لاَ يَجْلِسُ مَجْلِسًا لِلذِّكْرِ حِينَ يَجْلِسُ إِلاَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ حَكَمٌ قِسْطٌ هَلَكَ الْمُرْتَابُونَ فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ يَوْمًا إِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ فِتَنًا يَكْثُرُ فِيهَا الْمَالُ وَيُفْتَحُ فِيهَا الْقُرْآنُ حَتَّى يَأْخُذَهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ وَالْمُنَافِقُ وَالرَّجُلُ وَالْمَرْأَةُ وَالصَّغِيرُ وَالْكَبِيرُ وَالْعَبْدُ وَالْحُرُّ فَيُوشِكُ قَائِلٌ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا لِلنَّاسِ لاَ يَتَّبِعُونِي وَقَدْ قَرَأْتُ الْقُرْآنَ مَا هُمْ بِمُتَّبِعِيَّ حَتَّى أَبْتَدِعَ لَهُمْ غَيْرَهُ فَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمَا ابْتُدِعَ فَإِنَّ مَا ابْتُدِعَ ضَلاَلَةٌ وَأُحَذِّرُكُمْ زَيْغَةَ الْحَكِيمِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ قَدْ يَقُولُ كَلِمَةَ الضَّلاَلَةِ عَلَى لِسَانِ الْحَكِيمِ وَقَدْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِمُعَاذٍ مَا يُدْرِينِي رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ أَنَّ الْحَكِيمَ قَدْ يَقُولُ كَلِمَةَ الضَّلاَلَةِ وَأَنَّ الْمُنَافِقَ قَدْ يَقُولُ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ قَالَ بَلَى اجْتَنِبْ مِنْ كَلاَمِ الْحَكِيمِ الْمُشْتَهِرَاتِ الَّتِي يُقَالُ لَهَا مَا هَذِهِ وَلاَ يُثْنِيَنَّكَ ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يُرَاجِعَ وَتَلَقَّ الْحَقَّ إِذَا سَمِعْتَهُ فَإِنَّ عَلَى الْحَقِّ نُورًا  

A man wrote to 'Umar b. 'Abd al-Aziz asking him about Divine decree. He wrote to him: To begin with, I enjoin upon you to fear Allah, to be moderate in (obeying) His Command, to follow the sunnah (practice) of His Prophet ﷺ and to abandon the novelties which the innovators introduced after his Sunnah has been established and they were saved from its trouble (i.e. novelty or innovation) ; so stick to Sunnah, for it is for you, if Allah chooses, a protection ; then you should know that any innovation which the people introduced was refuted long before it on the basis of some authority or there was some lesson in it, for the Sunnah was introduced by the people who were conscious of the error, slip, foolishness, and extremism in case of (the sunnah) was opposed. So accept for yourself what the people (in the past) had accepted for themselves, for they had complete knowledge of whatever they were informed, and by penetrating insight they forbade (to do prohibited acts); they had more strength (than us) to disclose the matters (of religion), and they were far better (than us) by virtue of their merits. If right guidance is what you are following, then you outstriped them to it. And if you say whatever the novelty occurred after them was introduced by those who followed the way other then theirs and disliked them. It is they who actually outstripped, and talked about it sufficiently, and gave a satisfactory explanation for it. Below them there is no place for exhaustiveness, and above them there is no place for elaborating things. Some people shortened the matter more than they had done, and thus they turned away (from them), and some people raised the matter more than they had done, and thus they exaggerated. They were on right guidance between that. You have written (to me) asking about confession of Divine decree, you have indeed approached a person who is well informed of it, with the will of Allah. I know what whatever novelty people have brought in, and whatever innovation people have introduced are not more manifest and more established than confession of Divine decree. The ignorant people (i.e. the Arabs before Islam) in pre-Islamic times have mentioned it ; they talked about it in their speeches and in their poetry. They would console themselves for what they lost, and Islam then strengthened it (i.e. belief in Divine decree). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not mention it in one or two traditions, but the Muslims heard it from him, and they talked of it from him, and they talked of it during his lifetime and after his death. They did so out of belief and submission to their Lord and thinking themselves weak. There is nothing which is not surrounded by His knowledge, and not counted by His register and not destined by His decree. Despite that, it has been strongly mentioned in His Book: from it they have derived it, and from it they have and so ? they also read in it what you read, and they knew its interpretation of which you are ignorant. After that they said: All this is by writing and decreeing. Distress has been written down, and what has been destined will occur ; what Allah wills will surely happen, and what He does not will will not happen. We have no power to harm or benefit ourselves. Then after that they showed interest (in good works) and were afraid (of bad deeds).  

عَنِ الْقَدَرِ فَكَتَبَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَالاِقْتِصَادِ فِي أَمْرِهِ وَاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ﷺ وَتَرْكِ مَا أَحْدَثَ الْمُحْدِثُونَ بَعْدَ مَا جَرَتْ بِهِ سُنَّتُهُ وَكُفُوا مُؤْنَتَهُ فَعَلَيْكَ بِلُزُومِ السُّنَّةِ فَإِنَّهَا لَكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عِصْمَةٌ ثُمَّ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْتَدِعِ النَّاسُ بِدْعَةً إِلاَّ قَدْ مَضَى قَبْلَهَا مَا هُوَ دَلِيلٌ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ عِبْرَةٌ فِيهَا فَإِنَّ السُّنَّةَ إِنَّمَا سَنَّهَا مَنْ قَدْ عَلِمَ مَا فِي خِلاَفِهَا وَلَمْ يَقُلِ ابْنُ كَثِيرٍ مَنْ قَدْ عَلِمَ مِنَ الْخَطَإِ وَالزَّلَلِ وَالْحُمْقِ وَالتَّعَمُّقِ فَارْضَ لِنَفْسِكَ مَا رَضِيَ بِهِ الْقَوْمُ لأَنْفُسِهِمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عَلَى عِلْمٍ وَقَفُوا وَبِبَصَرٍ نَافِذٍ كَفَوْا وَلَهُمْ عَلَى كَشْفِ الأُمُورِ كَانُوا أَقْوَى وَبِفَضْلِ مَا كَانُوا فِيهِ أَوْلَى فَإِنْ كَانَ الْهُدَى مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ لَقَدْ سَبَقْتُمُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُمْ إِنَّمَا حَدَثَ بَعْدَهُمْ مَا أَحْدَثَهُ إِلاَّ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِهِمْ وَرَغِبَ بِنَفْسِهِ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السَّابِقُونَ فَقَدْ تَكَلَّمُوا فِيهِ بِمَا يَكْفِي وَوَصَفُوا مِنْهُ مَا يَشْفِي فَمَا دُونَهُمْ مِنْ مَقْصَرٍ وَمَا فَوْقَهُمْ مِنْ مَحْسَرٍ وَقَدْ قَصَّرَ قَوْمٌ دُونَهُمْ فَجَفَوْا وَطَمَحَ عَنْهُمْ أَقْوَامٌ فَغَلَوْا وَإِنَّهُمْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ لَعَلَى هُدًى مُسْتَقِيمٍ كَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الإِقْرَارِ بِالْقَدَرِ فَعَلَى الْخَبِيرِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَقَعْتَ مَا أَعْلَمُ مَا أَحْدَثَ النَّاسُ مِنْ مُحْدَثَةٍ وَلاَ ابْتَدَعُوا مِنْ بِدْعَةٍ هِيَ أَبْيَنُ أَثَرًا وَلاَ أَثْبَتُ أَمْرًا مِنَ الإِقْرَارِ بِالْقَدَرِ لَقَدْ كَانَ ذَكَرَهُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْجُهَلاَءُ يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِهِ فِي كَلاَمِهِمْ وَفِي شِعْرِهِمْ يُعَزُّونَ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ عَلَى مَا فَاتَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزِدْهُ الإِسْلاَمُ بَعْدُ إِلاَّ شِدَّةً وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَيْرِ حَدِيثٍ وَلاَ حَدِيثَيْنِ وَقَدْ سَمِعَهُ مِنْهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ فَتَكَلَّمُوا بِهِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ وَبَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ يَقِينًا وَتَسْلِيمًا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَتَضْعِيفًا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ شَىْءٌ لَمْ يُحِطْ بِهِ عِلْمُهُ وَلَمْ يُحْصِهِ كِتَابُهُ وَلَمْ يَمْضِ فِيهِ قَدَرُهُ وَإِنَّهُ مَعَ ذَلِكَ لَفِي مُحْكَمِ كِتَابِهِ مِنْهُ اقْتَبَسُوهُ وَمِنْهُ تَعَلَّمُوهُ وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُمْ لِمَ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ آيَةَ كَذَا وَلِمَ قَالَ كَذَا لَقَدْ قَرَءُوْا مِنْهُ مَا قَرَأْتُمْ وَعَلِمُوا مِنْ تَأْوِيلِهِ مَا جَهِلْتُمْ وَقَالُوا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ بِكِتَابٍ وَقَدَرٍ وَكُتِبَتِ الشَّقَاوَةُ وَمَا يُقَدَّرْ يَكُنْ وَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ كَانَ وَمَا لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَكُنْ وَلاَ نَمْلِكُ لأَنْفُسِنَا ضَرًّا وَلاَ نَفْعًا ثُمَّ رَغَبُوا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ وَرَهِبُوا  

Ibn ‘Umar had a friend from the people of Syria who used to correspond with him. ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar wrote to him: I have been informed that you have talked something about Divine decree. You should write it to me, for I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: Among my community there will be people who will falsify Divine decree.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ يُكَذِّبُونَ بِالْقَدَرِ  

I said to al-Hasan: Abu Sa’id, tell me about Adam. Was he created for the heaven or the earth? He said: No, for the earth. I said: It was unavoidable for him. I said: Tell me about the following verse of the Quran: ”can lead (any) into temptation concerning Allah, except such as are (themselves) going to blazing fire.” He said: The devils do not lead anyone astray by their temptation except the one whom Allah destined to go to Hell.  

لاَ بَلْ لِلأَرْضِ قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوِ اعْتَصَمَ فَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ قَالَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مِنْهُ بُدٌّ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى { مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ بِفَاتِنِينَ * إِلاَّ مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ الْجَحِيمِ } قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لاَ يَفْتِنُونَ بِضَلاَلَتِهِمْ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَحِيمَ  

“And for this did He create them.” He said: He created these for this and those for that.  

عَنِ الْحَسَنِ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى { وَلِذَلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ } قَالَ خَلَقَ هَؤُلاَءِ لِهَذِهِ وَهَؤُلاَءِ لِهَذِهِ  

“Can lead (any) into temptation concerning Allah, except such as are (themselves) going to the blazing fire.” He said: Except the one whom Allah destined that he should go to Hell.  

قُلْتُ لِلْحَسَنِ { مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ بِفَاتِنِينَ * إِلاَّ مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ الْجَحِيمِ } قَالَ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ يَصْلَى الْجَحِيمَ  

Al-Hasan used to say that his fall from the heaven on the earth is dearer to him than uttering: The matter is in my hand.  

لأَنْ يُسْقَطَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَقُولَ الأَمْرُ بِيَدِي  

Al-Hasan came to us. The jurists of Mecca told me that I should speak to him that some day he should hold a meeting for them and preach to them. He said: Yes. So they gathered and he addressed them. I did not see anyone on orator greater than him. A man said: Abu Sa’id, who created Satan? He replied: Glory be to Allah! Is there any creator other than Allah? Allah created Satan, and he created good and created evil. The man said: May Allah ruin them! How do they lie to this old man.  

قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا الْحَسَنُ مَكَّةَ فَكَلَّمَنِي فُقَهَاءُ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ أَنْ أُكَلِّمَهُ فِي أَنْ يَجْلِسَ لَهُمْ يَوْمًا يَعِظُهُمْ فِيهِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَاجْتَمَعُوا فَخَطَبَهُمْ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ أَخْطَبَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ مَنْ خَلَقَ الشَّيْطَانَ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الشَّيْطَانَ وَخَلَقَ الْخَيْرَ وَخَلَقَ الشَّرَّ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ كَيْفَ يَكْذِبُونَ عَلَى هَذَا الشَّيْخِ  

“Even so do We let it creep into the hearts of the sinners.” He said: Polytheism  

عَنِ الْحَسَنِ { كَذَلِكَ نَسْلُكُهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ } قَالَ الشِّرْكُ  

Between them and their faith.  

عَنِ الْحَسَنِ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ { وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ } قَالَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الإِيمَانِ  

I was a prisoner in Syria. A man called me from behind. I turned towards him and suddenly found that it was Raja b. Haiwah. He said: Abu ‘Awn, what is this that the people are telling about al-Hasan? I said: They are much lying to al-Hasan.  

يَا أَبَا عَوْنٍ مَا هَذَا الَّذِي يَذْكُرُونَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ يَكْذِبُونَ عَلَى الْحَسَنِ كَثِيرًا  

I heard Ayyub say: Two kinds of people have lied to al-Hasan: people who believed in free will and they intended that they publicise their belief by it; and people who had enmity with and hostility (for al-Hasan), saying: Did he not say so and so? Did he not say so and so?  

سَمِعْتُ أَيُّوبَ يَقُولُ كَذَبَ عَلَى الْحَسَنِ ضَرْبَانِ مِنَ النَّاسِ قَوْمٌ الْقَدَرُ رَأْيُهُمْ وَهُمْ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُنَفِّقُوا بِذَلِكَ رَأْيَهُمْ وَقَوْمٌ لَهُ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ شَنَآنٌ وَبُغْضٌ يَقُولُونَ أَلَيْسَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ كَذَا أَلَيْسَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ كَذَا  

Qurrah b. Khalid used to tell us: O young people! Do not think that al-Hasan denied predestination, for his opinion (i.e., belief) was sunnah and sight.  

كَانَ قُرَّةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ يَقُولُ لَنَا يَا فِتْيَانُ لاَ تُغْلَبُوا عَلَى الْحَسَنِ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ رَأْيُهُ السُّنَّةَ وَالصَّوَابَ  

If we learnt that the remark of al-Hasan would reach the extent that it has reached, we would write a book for his withdrawal and call witnesses to him; but we said: This is a remark that surprisingly came out (from him) and it will not be transmitted to others.  

أَنَّ كَلِمَةَ الْحَسَنِ تَبْلُغُ مَا بَلَغَتْ لَكَتَبْنَا بِرُجُوعِهِ كِتَابًا وَأَشْهَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ شُهُودًا وَلَكِنَّا قُلْنَا كَلِمَةٌ خَرَجَتْ لاَ تُحْمَلُ  

Al-Hasan said: I will never return to it.  

لِيَ الْحَسَنُ مَا أَنَا بِعَائِدٍ إِلَى شَىْءٍ مِنْهُ أَبَدًا  

Al-Hasan never interpreted any Quranic verse but to establish (Divine decree).  

مَا فَسَّرَ الْحَسَنُ آيَةً قَطُّ إِلاَّ عَلَى الإِثْبَاتِ  

We used to say in the times of the Prophet ﷺ: We do not compare anyone with Abu Bakr. ’Umar came next and then ‘Uthman. We then would leave (rest of) the companions of the Prophet ﷺ without treating any as superior to other.  

كُنَّا نَقُولُ فِي زَمَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لاَ نَعْدِلُ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ أَحَدًا ثُمَّ عُمَرَ ثُمَّ عُثْمَانَ ثُمَّ نَتْرُكُ أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لاَ تَفَاضُلَ بَيْنَهُمْ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was alive, we used to say: The most excellent member of the community of the Prophet ﷺ after himself is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, then 'Uthman.  

كُنَّا نَقُولُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَىٌّ أَفْضَلُ أُمَّةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بَعْدَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ ؓ أَجْمَعِينَ  

I said to my father: Which of the people after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is best? He replied: Abu Bakr. I then asked: Who comes next? He said: ‘Umar. I was then afraid of asking him who came next, and he might mention ‘Uthman, so I said: You came next, O my father? He said: I am only a man among the Muslims.  

قُلْتُ لأَبِي أَىُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ثُمَّ عُمَرُ قَالَ ثُمَّ خَشِيتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ ثُمَّ مَنْ فَيَقُولَ عُثْمَانُ فَقُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَنْتَ يَا أَبَةِ قَالَ مَا أَنَا إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ  

I heard Sufyan say: If anyone thinks that ‘All (Allah be pleased with him) was more deserving for the Caliphate than both of them, he imputed error to Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, the Muhajirun (Immigrants), and the Ansar (Helpers) Allah be pleased with all of them. I think that with this (belief) none of his action will rise to the heaven.  

أَنَّ عَلِيًّا عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ أَحَقَّ بِالْوِلاَيَةِ مِنْهُمَا فَقَدْ خَطَّأَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارَ وَمَا أُرَاهُ يَرْتَفِعُ لَهُ مَعَ هَذَا عَمَلٌ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ  

The Caliphs are five: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, ‘All and ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-Aziz.  

سَمِعْتُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيَّ يَقُولُ الْخُلَفَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ وَعَلِيٌّ وَعُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ ؓ  

Abu Hurairah said that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: I saw (in my dream) a piece of cloud from which ghee and honey were dropping. I saw the people spreading their hands. Some of them took much and some a little. I also saw a rope hanging from Heaven to Earth. I saw, Messenger of Allah, that you caught hold of it and ascended by it. Then another man caught hold of it and ascended it. Then another man caught hold of it and ascended it. Then another man caught hold of it, but it broke, and then it was joined and he ascended it. AbuBakr said: May my parents be sacrificed for you, if you allow, I shall interpret it. He said: Interpret it. He said: The piece of cloud is the cloud of Islam; the ghee and honey that were dropping from it are the Qur'an, which contains softness and sweetness. Those who received much or little of it are those who learn much or little of the Qur'an. The rope hanging from Heaven to Earth is the truth which you are following. You catch hold of it and then Allah will raise you to Him. Then another man will catch hold of it and ascend it, Then another man will catch hold of it and it will break. But it will be joined and he will ascend it. Tell me. Messenger of Allah, whether I am right or wrong. He said: You are partly right and partly wrong. He said: I adjure you by Allah, you should tell me where I am wrong. The Prophet ﷺ said: Do not take an oath.  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَى إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَرَى اللَّيْلَةَ ظُلَّةً يَنْطِفُ مِنْهَا السَّمْنُ وَالْعَسَلُ فَأَرَى النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ فَالْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ وَأَرَى سَبَبًا وَاصِلاً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَأَرَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخَذْتَ بِهِ فَعَلَوْتَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلاَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَعَلاَ بِهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَانْقَطَعَ ثُمَّ وُصِلَ فَعَلاَ بِهِ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي لَتَدَعَنِّي فَلأَعْبُرَنَّهَا فَقَالَ اعْبُرْهَا قَالَ أَمَّا الظُّلَّةُ فَظُلَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنْطِفُ مِنَ السَّمْنِ وَالْعَسَلِ فَهُوَ الْقُرْآنُ لِينُهُ وَحَلاَوَتُهُ وَأَمَّا الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ فَهُوَ الْمُسْتَكْثِرُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالْمُسْتَقِلُّ مِنْهُ وَأَمَّا السَّبَبُ الْوَاصِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَهُوَ الْحَقُّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ تَأْخُذُ بِهِ فَيُعْلِيكَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ بَعْدَكَ رَجُلٌ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَيَنْقَطِعُ ثُمَّ يُوصَلُ لَهُ فَيَعْلُو بِهِ أَىْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَتُحَدِّثَنِّي أَصَبْتُ أَمْ أَخْطَأْتُ فَقَالَ أَصَبْتَ بَعْضًا وَأَخْطَأْتَ بَعْضًا فَقَالَ أَقْسَمْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَتُحَدِّثَنِّي مَا الَّذِي أَخْطَأْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ تُقْسِمْ  

He refused to tell him (his mistake).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِهَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ قَالَ فَأَبَى أَنْ يُخْبِرَهُ  

One day the Prophet ﷺ said: Which of you had dream? A man said: It is I. I saw as though a scale descended from the sky. You and AbuBakr were weighed and you were heavier; AbuBakr and Umar were weighed and AbuBakr was heavier: Umar and Uthman were weighed and Umar was heavier; than the scale was taken up. we saw signs of dislike on the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ رُؤْيَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَنَا رَأَيْتُ كَأَنَّ مِيزَانًا نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَوُزِنْتَ أَنْتَ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ فَرُجِحْتَ أَنْتَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَوُزِنَ عُمَرُ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ فَرُجِحَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَوُزِنَ عُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ فَرُجِحَ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ رُفِعَ الْمِيزَانُ فَرَأَيْنَا الْكَرَاهِيَةَ فِي وَجْهِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

One day the Prophet ﷺ asked: Which of you had a dream? He then mentioned the rest of the tradition to the same effect, but he did not mention the word “disliked”. Instead, he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was grieved about that. He then said: There will be a caliphate on the model of prophecy, then Allah will give the kingdom to whom he wills.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ أَيُّكُمْ رَأَى رُؤْيَا فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الْكَرَاهِيَةَ قَالَ فَاسْتَاءَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَعْنِي فَسَاءَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ خِلاَفَةُ نُبُوَّةٍ ثُمَّ يُؤْتِي اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ  

Last night a good man had a vision in which Abu Bakr seemed to be joined to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. ‘Umar to Abu Bakr, and ‘Uthman to ‘Umar. Jabir said: When we got up and left the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we said: The good man is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and that their being joined together means that they are the rulers over this matter with which Allah has sent His Prophet ﷺ. Abu Dawud said: It has been transmitted by Yunus and Shu’aib, but they did not mention ‘Amr b. Aban.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أُرِيَ اللَّيْلَةَ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ نِيطَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَنِيطَ عُمَرُ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَنِيطَ عُثْمَانُ بِعُمَرَ قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَلَمَّا قُمْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْنَا أَمَّا الرَّجُلُ الصَّالِحُ فَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَمَّا تَنَوُّطُ بَعْضِهِمْ بِبَعْضٍ فَهُمْ وُلاَةُ هَذَا الأَمْرِ الَّذِي بَعَثَ اللَّهُ بِهِ نَبِيَّهُ ﷺ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I saw (in a dream) that a bucket was hung from the sky. Abu Bakr came, caught hold of both ends of its wooden handle, and drank a little of it. Next came ‘Umar who caught hold of both ends of its wooden handle and drank of it to his fill. Next came ‘Uthman who caught hold of both ends of its handle and drank of it to his fill. Next came ‘All. He caught hold of both ends of its handle, but it became upset and some (water) from it was sprinkled on him.  

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ كَأَنَّ دَلْوًا دُلِّيَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَأَخَذَ بِعَرَاقِيهَا فَشَرِبَ شُرْبًا ضَعِيفًا ثُمَّ جَاءَ عُمَرُ فَأَخَذَ بِعَرَاقِيهَا فَشَرِبَ حَتَّى تَضَلَّعَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ عُثْمَانُ فَأَخَذَ بِعَرَاقِيهَا فَشَرِبَ حَتَّى تَضَلَّعَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ عَلِيٌّ فَأَخَذَ بِعَرَاقِيهَا فَانْتَشَطَتْ وَانْتَضَحَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهَا شَىْءٌ  

The Romans will enter the Levant and stay there for forty days, and no place will be saved from them but Damascus and 'Uman.  

لَتَمْخُرَنَّ الرُّومُ الشَّامَ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحًا لاَ يَمْتَنِعُ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ دِمَشْقُ وَعَمَّانُ  

A king of the foreigners will come and prevail over all the cities except Damascus.  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا الأَعْيَسِ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَلْمَانَ يَقُولُ سَيَأْتِي مَلِكٌ مِنْ مُلُوكِ الْعَجَمِ يَظْهَرُ عَلَى الْمَدَائِنِ كُلِّهَا إِلاَّ دِمَشْقَ  

The place of the assembly of Muslims at the time of war will be in a land called al-Ghutah.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَوْضِعُ فُسْطَاطِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي الْمَلاَحِمِ أَرْضٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا الْغُوطَةُ  

I heard al-Hajjaj addressing the people say: The similitude of ‘Uthman with Allah is like the similitude of Jesus son of Mary. He then recited the following verse and explained it: “Behold! Allah said: O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehood) of those who blaspheme.” He was making a sign with his hand to us and to the people of Syria.  

اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا } يُشِيرُ إِلَيْنَا بِيَدِهِ وَإِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ  

I heard al-Hajjaj say in his address: Is the messenger of one of you sent for some need is more respectable with him or his successor among his people? I thought in my mind: I make a vow for Allah that I shall never pray behind you. If I find people who fight against you, I shall fight against you along with them. Ishaq added in his version: He fought in the battle of al-Jamajim until he was killed.  

فِي خُطْبَتِهِ رَسُولُ أَحَدِكُمْ فِي حَاجَتِهِ أَكْرَمُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْ خَلِيفَتُهُ فِي أَهْلِهِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لِلَّهِ عَلَىَّ أَلاَّ أُصَلِّيَ خَلْفَكَ صَلاَةً أَبَدًا وَإِنْ وَجَدْتُ قَوْمًا يُجَاهِدُونَكَ لأُجَاهِدَنَّكَ مَعَهُمْ زَادَ إِسْحَاقُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ فَقَاتَلَ فِي الْجَمَاجِمِ حَتَّى قُتِلَ  

I heard al-Hajjaj say on the pulpit: Fear Allah as much as possible; there is no exception in it. Hear and obey the Commander of the Faithful ‘Abd al-Malik; there is no exception in it. I swear by Allah, if order people to come but from a certain gate of the mosque, and they come out from another gate, their blood and their properties will be lawful for me. I swear by Allah, if I seize the tribe of Rabi’ah for the tribe of Mudar, it is lawful for me from Allah. Who will apologies to me for the slave of Hudhail (i.e. ‘Abd Allah b. Mas’ud) who thinks that his reading of the Quran is from Allah. I swear by Allah, it is a rhymed prose of the Bedouins. Allah did not reveal it to his Prophet ﷺ. Who will apologies to me for these clients (non-Arab). One of them thinks that he will throw a stone and when it falls (on the ground) he says: Something new has happened. I swear by Allah, I shall leave them (ruined and perished) like the day that passes away. He said: I mentioned it to al-A’mash. He said: I swear by Allah, I heard it from him.  

سَمِعْتُ الْحَجَّاجَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَقُولُ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ لَيْسَ فِيهَا مَثْنَوِيَّةٌ وَاسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا لَيْسَ فِيهَا مَثْنَوِيَّةٌ لأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ وَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَمَرْتُ النَّاسَ أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَخَرَجُوا مِنْ بَابٍ آخَرَ لَحَلَّتْ لِي دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَأَمْوَالُهُمْ وَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَخَذْتُ رَبِيعَةَ بِمُضَرَ لَكَانَ ذَلِكَ لِي مِنَ اللَّهِ حَلاَلاً وَيَا عَذِيرِي مِنْ عَبْدِ هُذَيْلٍ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ قِرَاءَتَهُ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا هِيَ إِلاَّ رَجَزٌ مِنْ رَجَزِ الأَعْرَابِ مَا أَنْزَلَهَا اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَعَذِيرِي مِنْ هَذِهِ الْحَمْرَاءِ يَزْعُمُ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَرْمِي بِالْحَجَرِ فَيَقُولُ إِلَى أَنْ يَقَعَ الْحَجَرُ قَدْ حَدَثَ أَمْرٌ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَدَعَنَّهُمْ كَالأَمْسِ الدَّابِرِ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لِلأَعْمَشِ فَقَالَ أَنَا وَاللَّهِ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْهُ  

These clients (i.e., non-Arabs) are to be struck and cut off. I swear by Allah, if I strike a stick with a stick, I would annihilate them like the day that passed away. Al-hamra means clients or non-Arabs.  

سَمِعْتُ الْحَجَّاجَ يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ هَذِهِ الْحَمْرَاءُ هَبْرٌ هَبْرٌ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ قَرَعْتُ عَصًا بِعَصًا لأَذَرَنَّهُمْ كَالأَمْسِ الذَّاهِبِ يَعْنِي الْمَوَالِي  

I prayed the Friday prayer with al-Hajjaj and he addressed. He then transmitted the tradition of Abu Bakr b. ‘Ayyash. He said in it: Hear and obey the caliph of Allah and his select ‘Abd al-Malik bin Marwan. He then transmitted the rest of the tradition, and said: If I seized Rabi’ah for Mudar. But he did not mention the story of the clients (i.e. non Arabs).  

وَلَوْ أَخَذْتُ رَبِيعَةَ بِمُضَرَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ قِصَّةَ الْحَمْرَاءِ