1459 – Abū Bakr ibn Sayf narrated to us, saying: Al-Sarī narrated to us, saying: Shuayb ibn Ibrāhīm narrated to us, saying: Sayf ibn Umar narrated to us, from Abū Hāritha and Abū Uthmān al-Ghassānī, who both said:

“When Ibn al-Sawdā arrived in Egypt, he impressed its people. He found them congenial, and they likewise found him congenial. He broached unbelief with them, but they rejected him. He then broached dissension, and they gave him reason to hope that they would accept it. He began by denouncing Amr ibn al-Ās, saying, ‘Why does he give some of you larger stipends and provisions than others? Why do we not appoint a man from Quraysh who will treat us equally?’ They found his suggestion agreeable and said, ‘How can we accomplish that while Amr ⦗1987⦘ remains in authority, given his standing among the Arabs?’

“He replied, ‘Ask to be relieved of his governance. Then we shall carry out our plan and make a public show of conferring together for what is right and voicing criticism, so that no one will be able to object to what we are doing.’

“They accordingly asked to be relieved of him and petitioned for Abd Allāh ibn Sa‘d. He was consequently given joint authority with Amr: Abd Allāh was placed in charge of land-tax revenue, while Amr retained command of military affairs and was not dismissed. They then sowed discord between the two until each wrote to Uthmān—may Allah be pleased with him—concerning the reports that reached him about the other. Those men then rode out, asked to be relieved of Amr, and requested Abd Allāh instead; their request for relief was granted.

“When Amr ibn al-Ās came before Uthmān—may Allah be pleased with him—Uthmān asked, ‘What has happened, Abū Abd Allāh?’

“He replied, ‘By Allah, Commander of the Faithful, at no time since I took charge of them have I been more resolute in handling affairs or firmer in judgment than since they came to dislike me. I do not know how this befell me.’

“Uthmān replied, ‘But I know. The very matter I feared has now drawn near. A group of riders came to me, but I rebuffed them and disliked them. Indeed, what is to be must inevitably come to pass. By Allah, I shall deal patiently with them, and we shall continue to accommodate them so long as Allah—Glorified and Exalted—is not disobeyed.’”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn—may Allah have mercy on him—said: This is but one of the accounts concerning Abd Allāh ibn Saba and his followers—may Allah curse him. They have incited discord among the Muslims from the time of the Companions until our own day, and all Muslims condemn Ibn Saba’s doctrine.

Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—exiled him to Sābāt, where he settled among its people and brought them to ruin. He attributed to Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—things from which Allah—Glorified and Exalted—had absolved and protected him. Allah elevated Alī’s standing in this world and the Hereafter far above what the followers of Ibn Saba falsely ascribe to him. Alī burned them with fire and said:

[rajaz meter]

⦗1988⦘

When I heard that abhorrent declaration,
I kindled a fire and summoned Qanbar.

He burned them in Kufa at a place called Sahrā Ahad Ashar (the Desert of Eleven).