Ijma' as-Salaf fi al-I'tiqad - Al-Kirmani - (71)

is ʿUmar, and the best after ʿUmar is ʿUthmān. Some scholars and adherents of the Sunnah have said that the best after ʿUthmān is ʿAlī (1), while others halt at ʿUthmān. All four are rightly guided Caliphs.

Then the Companions of Muhammad (2)—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—after these four, are the best of all people. It is not permissible for anyone to mention any of their faults, or to denigrate any one of them with a blemish, a deficiency (3), or [any defamatory remark] (4). Whoever does so, it is obligatory (5) upon the ruler to discipline and punish him; he is not allowed to pardon him (6). Rather, the ruler should punish him and then (7) summon him to repent; if he repents, it is accepted from him, but if he does not repent (8) the punishment is repeated and he is then (9) consigned to perpetual imprisonment until he repents and retracts (10). This is the Sunnah regarding the Companions of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—(11).

(1) In manuscripts T and H: “and ʿUmar after Abu Bakr, ʿUthman after ʿUmar, and ʿAli after ʿUthman.” (2) In T and H: “the Messenger of Allah.” (3) In H: “and nothing is lacking.” (4) Omitted in T and H. (5) In T and H: “it has therefore become obligatory.” (6) As in T and H. (7) In T and H: “and he is to be invited to repent.” (8) In T: “and, if established, he must repeat it.” (9) In T and H: “and he will be consigned to everlasting punishment.” (10) In T and H: “until he dies or recants.” (11) Omitted in T and H.

عمر، وخيرهم بعد عمر عثمان، وقال قوم من أهل العلم وأهل السنة: وخيرهم بعد عثمان علي (١) ، ووقف قوم على عثمان، وهم خلفاء راشدون مهديون. ثم أصحاب محمد (٢) -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- بعد هؤلاء الأربعة خير الناس، لا يجوز لأحد أن يذكر شيئًا من مساوئهم، ولا يطعن على أحد منهم بعيب، ولا بنقص (٣) [ولا وقيعة] (٤) ، فمن فعل ذلك فالواجب (٥) على السلطان تأديبه وعقوبته، ليس له أن يعفو [عنه] (٦) ، بل يعاقبه ثم (٧) يستتيبه، فإن تاب قبل منه، وإن لم يتب (٨) أعاد عليه العقوبة ثم (٩) خلده الحبس، حتى يتوب ويراجع (١٠) ، [فهذا السنة في أصحاب محمد -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ-] (١١) .

(١) في (ط) و (ح): وعمر بعد أبي بكر، وعثمان بعد عمر، وعلي بعد عثمان. (٢) في (ط) و (ح): رسول الله. (٣) في (ح): ولا نقص. (٤) لا توجد في (ط) و (ح). (٥) في (ط) و (ح): فقد وجب. (٦) من (ط) و (ح). (٧) في (ط) و (ح): ويستتيبه. (٨) في (ط): وإن ثبت أعاد. (٩) في (ط) و (ح): وخلده. (١٠) في (ط) و (ح): حتى يموت أو يراجع. (١١) لا توجد في (ط) و (ح).