1237—Abū Sa'īd informed us, saying: Alī ibn Abd al-Azīz informed us, saying: Abū Ubayd said: Abū Mu'āwiya narrated to us, from Hajjāj, from someone who heard al-Sha'bī say: When Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—arrived in Kūfa, he said, “I have not come to undo anything settled by Umar—may Allah be pleased with him. ⦗1779⦘”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn—may Allah have mercy on him—said: This is a refutation of the Rāfidis, who were led away from the path of truth—may Allah Most High fill their eyes with tears—and who attributed to Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—that of which Allah, Mighty and Majestic, had absolved him: what they falsely ascribe to him concerning Abū Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both. Had Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—known that the truth lay elsewhere than in Abū Bakr’s judgment, he would have reversed it, fearing no reproach from any reproacher in the cause of Allah. Rather, he knew that the truth was what Abū Bakr had done, so Alī continued to follow what Abū Bakr had done—may Allah be pleased with both of them.

The same was true of Umar’s action concerning the people of Najrān. Likewise, when Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him—established the congregational night prayers of Ramadan and gathered the people to perform them, he thereby revived the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Companions performed those prayers throughout every region, and Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—also performed them. When the caliphate passed to him, he continued to perform them and ordered that they be performed. He prayed for mercy upon Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—saying, “May Allah illuminate your grave, O son of al-Khattāb, just as you illuminated our mosques.” He also said, “It was I who advised Umar to do that.” This is a refutation of the Rāfidis, who do not consider these prayers to be prescribed, in opposition to Umar, Uthmān, and Alī—may Allah be pleased with them all—and to all the Muslims.