concerning the unity of the community and the pledge of allegiance. ‘And here he is—listen to him.’ ʿAlī then rose, praised Allah and extolled Him. He spoke of Abū Bakr, his virtue and seniority, and confirmed that he was worthy of the good to which Allah had guided him. He then approached Abū Bakr and pledged allegiance to him.

Al-Bukhārī recorded this report—narrated by ʿUqayl from al-Zuhrī, from ʿUrwah, from ʿĀʾishah—in which it is also stated: ‘ʿAlī enjoyed esteem among the people during Fāṭimah’s lifetime; but when she passed away, he found people’s faces unfamiliar, so he sought reconciliation with Abū Bakr and pledged allegiance to him.’

The Account of al-Aswad al-ʿAnsī:

Sayf ibn ʿUmar al-Tamīmī said: al-Mustanīr ibn Yazīd al-Nakhāʿī narrated to us, from ʿUrwah ibn Ghaziyyah, from al-Ḍaḥḥāk ibn Fayrūz al-Daylamī, from his father, who said: ‘The first episode of apostasy in Islam during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ occurred at the hands of ʿAbhala ibn Kaʿb—known as al-Aswad—among the great numbers of the tribe of Madhḥij. He arose after the Farewell Pilgrimage.

He was a sorcerer who displayed marvels and captivated the hearts of all who heard his speech. He and the men of Madhḥij in Najrān rebelled until he advanced to Ṣanʿāʾ and captured it. He pursued Farwah, who had remained steadfast in Islam. Al-Aswad did not write to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, for no one stood in his way, and the dominion of Yemen lay entirely in his hands.

Sayf also related, on the authority of Sahl ibn Yūsuf, from his father, from ʿUbayd ibn Ṣakhr, who said: ‘While we were at al-Jund, having set the troops in proper order and having written…’