[Machine] A man came to Ali while he was in Kufa, and he claimed to be his opponent. Ali asked him, "Are you my opponent?" The man affirmed, and Ali said, "Then let us go to the arbitrator, for the Messenger of Allah forbade us from accepting an opponent unless his opponent is also present." Abu Muawiya and others related this story to Isma'il in the same manner.
نَزَلَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ ؓ رَجُلٌ وَهُوَ بِالْكُوفَةِ ثُمَّ قَدِمَ خَصْمًا لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ؓ أَخَصْمٌ أَنْتَ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتَحَوَّلْ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ نَهَانَا أَنْ نُضِيفَ الْخَصْمَ إِلَّا وَخَصْمُهُ مَعَهُ تَابَعَهُ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بِمَعْنَاهُ هَكَذَا