Another form of dissent is opposing the messengers through acts of disobedience, as when Allah informed us about the Children of Israel contravening Moses’ command to fight—and other commands besides—and about their incessant inquiries concerning the attributes of the cow.
This kind of dissent directed against the prophets—Allah knows best—refers to defying them, much as one would say, “The people differed with the commander,” meaning they went against him.
The first kind of dissent, by contrast, is disagreement among themselves. Although the two types often overlap, the phrase “dissent against him” could itself mean “their disagreement among themselves,” for the wording allows either sense.
All dissent, furthermore, may concern the very wording and recitation of the revelation, as in the ḥadīth of Ibn Masʿūd, or it may concern its interpretation, as is possible in the ḥadīth of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr—for the report transmitted by ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb supports this, if that particular story is indeed the same event.
(1) The printed edition inserts: “which He had commanded them to slaughter.”
(2) In manuscripts A, B, and T the reading is: “ikhtilaf” (difference).
(3) Manuscripts B and T read: “wa-huwa” (whereas he…).
(4) The printed edition has: “for the prophets.”
(5) Manuscript B reads: “bi-mukhalafa” (by contravening).
(6) Manuscripts A, B, and T read: “li-baʿd” (for some).
(7) That is, against the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him and his family.
(8) Manuscript T has: “qad yakunu kulluhu” (it may all be so).
(9) This is the individual referred to at 1/143.
(10) He is ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb ibn Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAs. The hadith critics differ about him, though most deem him reliable; their reservations concern only certain reports he narrates “from his father, from his grandfather.” In himself he is trustworthy. Ibn Hajar, in al-Taqrib, rates him “saduq” (truthful), and all four Sunan compilers transmit from him. See: Taqrib al-tahdhib 2:72, no. 607; Tahdhib al-tahdhib 8:48–55, no. 80.
(11) Manuscript B reads: “al-qadiyya” (the matter).