to an effeminate old man?!’

He retorted, ‘Son of a base woman, that was Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī.’ (1)

Ibn Saʿd said: Muḥammad ibn al-Ṣalt informed us; Rabīʿ ibn Mundhir narrated to us, from his father, who said:
“We were with Ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah. When he wished to perform wuḍūʾ (ablution) he removed his khuffayn (leather socks) and wiped over his feet.” (2)

I say: The Imāmiyyah try to use this report—along with the outward wording of the verse—as proof, yet washing the feet is an obligatory ruling explained to us by the Messenger (may Allah bless him). He said, “Woe to the heels from the Fire.” (3) This is the practice of the entire ummah, and no attention is paid to anyone who deviates.

A Rāfiḍī objected: “You consider it sufficient to wipe as little as the space of three hairs—indeed a single hair—of the head, but the text cannot bear that. In ordinary language no one who limited himself to that would be said to have wiped his head, nor did we ever see the Prophet ﷺ or any of his Companions content themselves with so little or allow it.”

The reply: the preposition bāʾ in His words “biruʾūsikum” (“over your heads”) is partitive, (4) yet this is not the place to elaborate the question.

Al-Wāqidī said: ʿAbdullāh ibn Jaʿfar related to us, from Ṣāliḥ ibn Kaysān, from al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah, who said:
“My father never pledged allegiance to al-Ḥajjāj. When Ibn al-Zubayr was killed, al-Ḥajjāj sent word to him: ‘The enemy of Allah has been slain.’ He replied, ‘When the people pledge, I will pledge.’

Al-Ḥajjāj said, ‘By Allah, I will surely kill you!’

He answered, ‘Allah has three hundred and sixty glances every day, and in every instant three hundred and sixty decrees; perhaps He will suffice us against you by means of one of His decrees.’ (5)

Al-Ḥajjāj reported the matter to ʿAbd al-Malik, and ʿAbd al-Malik was impressed.