ʿAli bin Abi Talib sent a piece of gold not yet taken out of its ore, in a tanned leather container to Messenger of Allah ﷺ . Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed that amongst four Persons: 'Uyaina bin Badr, Aqra bin HʿAbis, Zaid Al-Khail and the fourth was either Alqama or Amir bin at-Tufail. On that, one of his companions said, "We are more deserving of this (gold) than these (persons)." When that news reached the Prophet ﷺ , he said, "Don't you trust me though I am the truth worthy man of the One in the Heavens, and I receive the news of Heaven (i.e. Divine Inspiration) both in the morning and in the evening?" There got up a man with sunken eyes, raised cheek bones, raised forehead, a thick beard, a shaven head and a waist sheet that was tucked up and he said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Be afraid of Allah." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Woe to you! Am I not of all the people of the earth the most entitled to fear Allah?" Then that man went away. Khalid bin Al-Wahd said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Shall I chop his neck off?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "No, for he may offer prayers." Khalid said, "Numerous are those who offer prayers and say by their tongues (i.e. mouths) what is not in their hearts." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "I have not been ordered (by Allah) to search the hearts of the people or cut open their bellies." Then the Prophet looked at him (i.e. that man) while the latter was going away and said, "From the offspring of this (man there will come out (people) who will recite the Qur'an continuously and elegantly but it will not exceed their throats. (They will neither understand it nor act upon it). They would go out of the religion (i.e. Islam) as an arrow goes through a game's body." I think he also said, "If I should be present at their time I would kill them as the nations a Thamud were killed."  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ يَقُولُ بَعَثَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ؓ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ بِذُهَيْبَةٍ فِي أَدِيمٍ مَقْرُوظٍ لَمْ تُحَصَّلْ مِنْ تُرَابِهَا قَالَ فَقَسَمَهَا بَيْنَ أَرْبَعَةِ نَفَرٍ بَيْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ بْنِ بَدْرٍ وَأَقْرَعَ بْنِ حَابِسٍ وَزَيْدِ الْخَيْلِ وَالرَّابِعُ إِمَّا عَلْقَمَةُ وَإِمَّا عَامِرُ بْنُ الطُّفَيْلِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ كُنَّا نَحْنُ أَحَقَّ بِهَذَا مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ قَالَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي وَأَنَا أَمِينُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ يَأْتِينِي خَبَرُ السَّمَاءِ صَبَاحًا وَمَسَاءً قَالَ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ غَائِرُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ مُشْرِفُ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ نَاشِزُ الْجَبْهَةِ كَثُّ اللِّحْيَةِ مَحْلُوقُ الرَّأْسِ مُشَمَّرُ الإِزَارِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ قَالَ وَيْلَكَ أَوَلَسْتُ أَحَقَّ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ أَنْ يَتَّقِيَ اللَّهَ قَالَ ثُمَّ وَلَّى الرَّجُلُ قَالَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ قَالَ لاَ لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَ خَالِدٌ وَكَمْ مِنْ مُصَلٍّ يَقُولُ بِلِسَانِهِ مَا لَيْسَ فِي قَلْبِهِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنِّي لَمْ أُومَرْ أَنْ أَنْقُبَ قُلُوبَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ أَشُقَّ بُطُونَهُمْ قَالَ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ وَهْوَ مُقَفٍّ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا قَوْمٌ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ رَطْبًا لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ وَأَظُنُّهُ قَالَ لَئِنْ أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ ثَمُودَ  

'Ali b. Abu Talib sent to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from Yemen some gold alloyed with clay in a leather bag dyed in the leaves of Mimosa flava. He distributed it among four men. 'Uyaina b. Hisna, Aqra' b. Habis and Zaid al-Khail, and the fourth one was either Alqama b. 'Ulatha or 'Amir b. Tufail. A person from among his (Prophet's) Companions said: We had a better claim to this (wealth) than these (persons). This (remark) reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ upon which he said: Will you not trust me, whereas I am a trustee of Him Who is in the heaven? The news come to me from the heaven morning and evening. Then there stood up a person with deep sunken eyes, prominent cheek bones, and elevated forehead, thick beard, shaven head, tucked up loincloth, and he said: Messenger of Allah, fear Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Woe to thee. Do I not deserve most to fear Allah amongst the people of the earth? That man then returned. Khalid b. Walid then said: Messenger of Allah, should I not strike his neck? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: Perhaps he may be observing the prayer. Khalid said: How many observers of prayer are there who profess with their tongue what is not in their heart? Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I have not been commanded to pierce through the hearts of people, nor to split their bellies (insides). He again looked at him and he was going back. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: There would arise a people from the progeny of this (man) who would recite the Qur'an glibly, but it would not go beyond their throats; they would (hurriedly) pass through (the teachings of their) religion just as the arrow passes through the prey. I conceive that he (the Holy Prophet) also said this: If I find them I would certainly kill them as were killed the (people of) Thamud.  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ يَقُولُ بَعَثَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ بِذَهَبَةٍ فِي أَدِيمٍ مَقْرُوظٍ لَمْ تُحَصَّلْ مِنْ تُرَابِهَا قَالَ فَقَسَمَهَا بَيْنَ أَرْبَعَةِ نَفَرٍ بَيْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ بْنِ حِصْنٍ وَالأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ وَزَيْدِ الْخَيْلِ وَالرَّابِعُ إِمَّا عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ عُلاَثَةَ وَإِمَّا عَامِرُ بْنُ الطُّفَيْلِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ كُنَّا نَحْنُ أَحَقَّ بِهَذَا مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ قَالَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي وَأَنَا أَمِينُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ يَأْتِينِي خَبَرُ السَّمَاءِ صَبَاحًا وَمَسَاءً قَالَ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ غَائِرُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ مُشْرِفُ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ نَاشِزُ الْجَبْهَةِ كَثُّ اللِّحْيَةِ مَحْلُوقُ الرَّأْسِ مُشَمَّرُ الإِزَارِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ أَوَلَسْتُ أَحَقَّ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ أَنْ يَتَّقِيَ اللَّهَ قَالَ ثُمَّ وَلَّى الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ لاَ لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ يُصَلِّي قَالَ خَالِدٌ وَكَمْ مِنْ مُصَلٍّ يَقُولُ بِلِسَانِهِ مَا لَيْسَ فِي قَلْبِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنِّي لَمْ أُومَرْ أَنْ أَنْقُبَ عَنْ قُلُوبِ النَّاسِ وَلاَ أَشُقَّ بُطُونَهُمْ قَالَ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ مُقَفٍّ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا قَوْمٌ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ رَطْبًا لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ قَالَ أَظُنُّهُ قَالَ لَئِنْ أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ ثَمُودَ  

[Machine] I was walking with my father Umama on his donkey until we reached the steps of Damascus. Suddenly, we saw decapitated heads and my father asked, "What are these heads?" It was said, "These are the heads of the Kharijites brought from Iraq." He then said, "The dogs of Hellfire, the dogs of Hellfire, three times worse than those killed under the sky, three times better than those who killed them and were killed by them, three times they say." Then he cried, and I asked him, "What makes you cry, O Abu Umama?" He said, "Out of mercy for them, for they were from the people of Islam and then they left Islam." Then he recited, "It is He who sent down upon you the Book, from it are verses that are precise - they are the foundation of the Book," until he finished reciting the verses. Then he recited, "And do not be like those who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them," until he reached, "So they will abide in it eternally." So I said, "O Abu Umama, are these the people?" He said, "Yes." I asked him, "Is this something you say according to your own opinion or something you heard from the Messenger of Allah?" He said, "If that is the case, then I am bold enough to say it three times. I heard it from the Messenger of Allah, not once or twice, but seven times." Then he placed his finger in his ears and said, "Otherwise, we would have remained silent."  

كُنْتُ أَمْشِي مَعَ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ وَهُوَ عَلَى حِمَارٍ لَهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى دَرَجِ دِمَشْقَ فَإِذَا رُءُوسٌ مَنْصُوبَةٌ فَقَالَ مَا هَذِهِ الرُّءُوسُ؟ فَقِيلَ رُءُوسُ الْخَوَارِجِ جِيءَ بِهَا مِنَ الْعِرَاقِ فَقَالَ «كِلَابُ النَّارِ كِلَابُ النَّارِ ثَلَاثًا شَرُّ قَتْلَى قُتِلَتْ تَحْتَ السَّمَاءِ ثَلَاثًا يَقُولُهَا خَيْرُ قَتْلَى مَنْ قَتَلَهُ هَؤُلَاءِ ثَلَاثًا يَقُولُهَا طُوبَى لِمَنْ قَتَلَهُمْ وَقَتَلُوهُ ثَلَاثًا يَقُولُهَا » ثُمَّ بَكَى فَقُلْتُ مَا يُبْكِيكَ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ؟ قَالَ «رَحْمَةً لَهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ فَخَرَجُوا مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ» ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ} حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنَ الْآيَاتِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمِ الْبَيِّنَاتُ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ {فَفِي رَحْمَةِ اللهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ} فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ هَؤُلَاءِ؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ» قُلْتُ شَيْئًا تَقُولُهُ بِرَأْيِكَ أَمْ شَيْئًا سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ «إِنِّي إِذًا لَجَرِيءٌ ثَلَاثًا لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لَا مَرَّةً وَلَا اثْنَتَيْنِ حَتَّى عَدَّ سَبْعَةً» ثُمَّ وَضَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ فَقَالَ وَإِلَّا فَصَمَتَا  

[Machine] I was in Sham (Syria) when Al-Muhallab sent seventy heads of the Khawarij (a deviant sect) and they were placed at the gate of the mosque. I was on the roof of a house when Abu Umamah passed by, intending to enter the mosque. When he saw them, his eyes filled with tears and he said, "Glory be to Allah, what does Shaytan do to the children of Adam!" He repeated this three times, and then he said, "The dogs of Hell, the worst of killers under the sky." He repeated this three times, and then he said, "The best of those who are killed under the sky are the ones whom they (i.e., the Khawarij) kill." He repeated this three times, and then he turned to me and said, "O Abu Galib, you are in their land where there are many of them, may Allah protect you from them. Do you recite the Surah (i.e., Surah Al-Imran)? I said, Yes, I recite it. He said, "I wept out of mercy for them. They were among the people of Islam." Then he recited, "It is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad) the Book (this Qur'an). In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book..." until he reached the verse, "Seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and disbelief in the Oneness of Allah) and seeking it's interpretation..." and indeed they (i.e., the Khawarij) had deviation in their hearts, so he recited, "And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves..." until he reached the verse, "Have you then become disbelievers after having a true faith (Iman)?" I said, "Are these the people you were referring to, O Abu Umamah?" He said, "Yes." I said, "O Abu Umamah, did you say this based on your own opinion or something you heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ?" He said, "I am bold enough to say it (based on my own opinion), rather, it is something I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ not once or twice, but until he repeated it six times."  

كُنْتُ بِالشَّامِ فَبَعَثَ الْمُهَلَّبُ سَبْعِينَ رَأْسًا مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ فَنُصِبُوا عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَكُنْتُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ لِي فَمَرَّ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ يُرِيدُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَمَّا وَقَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ دَمِعَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فَقَالَ «سُبْحَانَ اللهِ مَا يَفْعَلُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَنِي آدَمَ» ثَلَاثًا قَالَ «كِلَابُ جَهَنَّمَ شَرُّ قَتْلَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّمَاءِ» ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ «خَيْرُ قَتْلَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّمَاءِ مَنْ قَتَلُوهُ» ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ «يَا أَبَا غَالِبٍ إِنَّكَ بِأَرْضِ هَؤُلَاءِ بِهَا كَثِيرٌ فَأَعَاذَكَ اللهُ مِنْهُمْ هَلْ تَقْرَأُ السُّورَةَ الَّتِي فِيهَا آلُ عِمْرَانَ؟» قُلْتُ بَلَى إِنِّي رَأَيْتُكَ دَمِعَتْ عَيْنَاكَ قَالَ «بَكَيْتُ رَحْمَةً لَهُمْ كَانُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ» فَتَلَا {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ} إِلَى أَنْ بَلَغَ {ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ} وَإِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ كَانَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَزِيغَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ تَلَا {وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا} إِلَى أَنْ بَلَغَ {أَكَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ} قُلْتُ هَؤُلَاءِ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ» قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ مِنْ قِبَلِ رَأْيِكَ تَقُولُ أَمْ شَيْئًا سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ «إِنِّي لَجَرِيءٌ ثَلَاثًا بَلْ شَيْءٌ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لَا مَرَّةً وَلَا مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سِتَّةً»  

[Machine] I was in Sham (Syria) when Al-Muhallab sent seventy heads of the Khawarij (a deviant sect) and they were placed at the entrance of the mosque. I was on the back of my house when Abu Umamah passed by, wanting to enter the mosque. When he stood in front of them, his eyes teared up and he said, "Glory be to Allah, what does Satan do to the children of Adam?" three times. He said, "The dogs of Hell are the worst of killers under the sky's shade," three times. Then he said, "The best of those killed under the sky's shade are those who were killed," three times. Then he turned to me and said, "O Abu Galib, you are in the land of these people, there are many of them, may Allah protect you from them. Do you recite the Surah of Al Imran?" I said, "Yes, indeed I saw your tears." He said, "I cried out of mercy for them, as they were from the people of Islam." Then he recited, "It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding." until he reached, "And do not be like the ones who became divided" until he reached, "Have you disbelieved after your belief?" I said, "Are these the people, O Abu Umamah?" He said, "Yes." I said, "O Abu Umamah, is this your personal opinion or something you heard from the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ ?" He said, "I am brave enough to say it three times, but it is something I heard from the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , not once or twice, but six times."  

كُنْتُ بِالشَّامِ فَبَعَثَ الْمُهَلَّبُ سَبْعِينَ رَأْسًا مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ فَنُصِبُوا عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَكُنْتُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ لِي فَمَرَّ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ يُرِيدُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَمَّا وَقَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ دَمِعَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فَقَالَ «سُبْحَانَ اللهِ مَا يَفْعَلُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَنِي آدَمَ» ثَلَاثًا قَالَ «كِلَابُ جَهَنَّمَ شَرُّ قَتْلَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّمَاءِ» ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ «خَيْرُ قَتْلَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّمَاءِ مَنْ قَتَلُوهُ» ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ «يَا أَبَا غَالِبٍ إِنَّكَ بِأَرْضِ هَؤُلَاءِ بِهَا كَثِيرٌ فَأَعَاذَكَ اللهُ مِنْهُمْ هَلْ تَقْرَأُ السُّورَةَ الَّتِي فِيهَا آلُ عِمْرَانَ؟» قُلْتُ بَلَى إِنِّي رَأَيْتُكَ دَمِعَتْ عَيْنَاكَ قَالَ «بَكَيْتُ رَحْمَةً لَهُمْ كَانُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ» فَتَلَا {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ} إِلَى أَنْ بَلَغَ {ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ} وَإِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ كَانَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَزِيغَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ تَلَا {وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا} إِلَى أَنْ بَلَغَ {أَكَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ} قُلْتُ هَؤُلَاءِ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ» قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ مِنْ قِبَلِ رَأْيِكَ تَقُولُ أَمْ شَيْئًا سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ «إِنِّي لَجَرِيءٌ ثَلَاثًا بَلْ شَيْءٌ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لَا مَرَّةً وَلَا مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سِتَّةً»  

[Machine] I was in Sham (Damascus) when Al-Muhallab sent sixty heads of the Khawarij and they were stationed at the steps of Damascus. I was on the back of my house when Abu Umamah passed by, so I got down and followed him. When he stood in front of them, tears welled up in his eyes and he said, "Glory be to Allah! How does Satan influence the sons of Adam three times? The dogs of Hell, the dogs of Hell, the worst of killers under the shade of the sky, three times! The best of those who kill are those who kill them, and blessed are those who kill them or are killed by them." Then he turned to me and said, "O Abu Galib, may Allah protect you from them." I said, "I saw you cried when you saw them." He said, "I cried out of mercy when I saw them. They used to be Muslims. Do you recite Surah Al-Imran?" I said, "Yes." Then he recited, "It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding." (Al-Imran 7) until it reaches, "And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed" (Al-Imran 105) until it reaches, "But as for those who were destined to be prosperous, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure" (Al-Imran 107). I said, "Are they the ones you were referring to, O Abu Umamah?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Before you, did you ever say anything or hear anything from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ?" He said, "Then I would be wrong (to say so), but I heard him say this, not once or twice, until he counted seven. Then he said, 'The Children of Israel divided into seventy-one sects, and this nation will divide into seventy-two, all of which are in the Fire except one, which is the Jama'ah (main body).' I said, 'O Abu Umamah, don't you see what they are doing?' He said, 'Upon them is what they bear, and upon you is what you bear.'"  

كُنْتُ بِالشَّامِ فَبَعَثَ الْمُهَلَّبُ سِتِّينَ رَأْسًا مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ فَنُصِبُوا عَلَى دَرَجِ دِمَشْقَ وَكُنْتُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ لِي إِذْ مَرَّ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ فَنَزَلْتُ فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ فَلَمَّا وَقَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ دَمَعَتْ عَيْنَاهُ وَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ مَا يَصْنَعُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَنِي آدَمَ ثَلَاثًا كِلَابُ جَهَنَّمَ كِلَابُ جَهَنَّمَ شَرُّ قَتْلَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّمَاءِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ خَيْرُ قَتْلَى مَنْ قَتَلُوهُ طُوبَى لِمَنْ قَتَلَهُمْ أَوْ قَتَلُوهُ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا غَالِبٍ أَعَاذَكَ اللهُ مِنْهُمْ قُلْتُ رَأَيْتُكَ بَكَيْتَ حِينَ رَأَيْتَهُمْ؟ قَالَ بَكَيْتُ رَحْمَةً رَأَيْتُهُمْ كَانُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ هَلْ تَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ آلِ عِمْرَانَ؟ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَرَأَ {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ} [آل عمران 7] حَتَّى بَلَغَ {وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللهُ} [آل عمران 7] وَإِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ كَانَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ وَزِيغَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا} [آل عمران 105] إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {فَفِي رَحْمَةِ اللهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ} [آل عمران 107] قُلْتُ هُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ مِنْ قِبَلِكَ تَقُولُ أَوْ شَيْءٌ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ إِنِّي إِذًا لَجَرِيءٌ بَل سَمِعْتُهُ لَا مَرَّةً وَلَا مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى عَدَّ سَبْعًا ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ تَفَرَّقُوا عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ تَزِيدُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِرْقَةً كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا السَّوَادُ الْأَعْظَمُ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ أَلَا تَرَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ؟ قَالَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا حُمِّلُوا وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَا حُمِّلْتُمْ  

"عَنْ أبِي غَالِب قَالَ: كُنْتُ في مَسْجدِ دِمَشْق فَجاءُوا بِسَبْعِينَ مِنْ رُؤوسِ الْحَرُورِيَّة فنصبت عَلَى درج الْمَسْجِد، فَجَاءَ أبُو أُمَامَةَ فَنَظَر إِلَيْهِم فَقَال: كَلَابُ جَهَنَّمَ شَرٌّ قَتْلَى قُتِلُوا تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّمَاءِ، وَمَنْ قَتَلُوا خَير قَتَلَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ السَّمَاء وَبَكَى ونَظَرَ إِلَى وَقَالَ: إِنَّكَ مِنْ بَلَدِ هَؤُلاءِ؟ يَا أَبَا غَالِب قُلتُ: نَعَمْ، قال: أَعاذَكَ، قال: أظنه قال: الله منهم، قال: تقرأُ آل عِمْرَانَ، قُلتُ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: {مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ

وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ}، وَقَالَ: {يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ اسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ} قُلتُ: يَا أَبَا أمَامَةَ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُكَ تَهْرِيقُ عُيُونك، قَالَ: رَحْمَةً لَهُم إنَّهم كَانُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الإِسْلَامِ، قَالَ: افْتَرَقَتْ بُنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَاحِدَةً وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، وَتَزِيدُ هَذِه الأُمَّة فِرْقَةً وَاحِدَة، كُلُّهَا في النَّارِ، إِلَّا السَّوَاد الأعْظَم، عَلَيهِمْ مَا حُمِّلُوا وَعَليكم مَا حُمِّلتُم، وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوه تَهْتَدُوا، السَّمْعُ والطَّاعَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْفُرْقَةِ وَالْمَعصية فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ: يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ، أَمِنْ رَأيِكَ تَقُولُ هَذَا، أَمْ شَيْئًا سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ ؟ قَالَ: إِنِّى إِذًا لجرئ إِنِّى سَمِعْتهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ غَيْر مَرَّة وَلَا مَرتيْن وَلَا ثَلاثٍ حَتَّى ذَكَرَ سَبْعًا".