eight; others maintained it was in Ṣafar.

ʿIkrimah ibn ʿAmmār related: Abū Zumayl told me that Ibn ʿAbbās said, “When the Kharijites had gathered in their quarters—about six thousand of them—I said to ʿAlī, ‘Commander of the Faithful, delay the prayer a little so that I may go and meet these people, for I fear they might harm you.’ He replied, ‘No, do not.’

“So Ibn ʿAbbās donned two of his finest garments—he was a tall, handsome man—and went to them. When they saw me, they said, ‘Welcome, Ibn ʿAbbās! But what is this cloak you are wearing?’ I answered, ‘What do you find objectionable about it? I have seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wearing a cloak of the finest quality.’ Then I recited to them: ‘Say, “Who has forbidden Allah’s adornment which He has produced for His servants…?”’ (Q 7:32).

“They asked, ‘What has brought you here?’ I replied, ‘I have come to you from the Commander of the Faithful and from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, yet I do not see a single one of them among you. I will convey to you what they have said and convey to them what you say. So what grievance do you have against the cousin and son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah?’

“They turned to one another and said, ‘Do not speak to him, for Allah says, “Nay, they are but a contentious people” (Q 43:58).’ Others said, ‘Why should we not speak to him? He is the cousin of the Messenger of Allah and he calls us to the Book of Allah.’

“They said, ‘We criticise him on three points: First, he referred judgment in the religion of Allah to men, and men have no right to arbitrate Allah’s judgment. Second, he fought yet did not take captives or spoils; if fighting them was lawful, then taking captives and booty was lawful, and if not, then neither was lawful. Third, he erased his title “Commander of the Faithful”; if he is not the Commander of the Faithful, then he must be the commander of the disbelievers.’ I asked, ‘Is there anything else?’ They replied, ‘That is enough for us.’

“I said, ‘Tell me: if I produce for you evidence from the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger, will you return to the truth?’ They answered, ‘Why should we not?’ I said, ‘As for your claim that he referred judgment in the matter of Allah to men, I have heard Allah, exalted be He, say in His Book: “Let two just men from among you judge concerning it” (Q 5:95). This concerns the indemnity for hunting a rabbit or something similar whose value is a quarter of a dirham; in this Allah has delegated…’