1859 — Abū Saīd also narrated to us. He said: Ishāq ibn Yahyā narrated to us. He said: Muhammad ibn Ubayd narrated to us. He said: Hāshim ibn al-Barīd narrated to us, from his father, who said: I heard Zayd ibn Ali—may Allah be pleased with them both—say, “Disavowing Abū Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—is tantamount to disavowing Ali—may Allah be pleased with him.”
Muhammad ibn al-Husayn—may Allah have mercy on him—said: Knowledge is to be taken from the likes of these noble, honorable, God-fearing, learned, and discerning leaders, whom Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has granted understanding ⦗2381⦘ of the religion, and who know what is lawful and what is forbidden and recognize the excellence of the Companions. It is not to be taken from someone who is ignorant. Rather, if something objectionable is heard from him, one should stop at that point, admonish him, treat him gently, and say to him, “You and your forebears are too exalted in our estimation for us to suppose that you are ignorant of the excellence of Abū Bakr and Umar, or that you deny their burial beside the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless and grant him peace.”
He should also be told, “This denial of the excellence of Abū Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—was not something you took from your righteous forebears. You took it only from a group who claim allegiance to you and are called the Rāfidah. Concerning them, your forefather Ali ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—related the following: ‘This nation will split into seventy-odd sects. The worst of them are people who profess love for us, the Household, yet act contrary to our conduct.’ It is also narrated that the Prophet—may Allah bless and grant him peace—said, ‘Toward the end of time, a people called the Rāfidah will emerge; they will reject Islam.’
“He should be told, ‘We consider you too eminent for the doctrines of these people, and your noble standing too lofty for the doctrines of those who have been led away from the path of truth and whom the devils have toyed with.’”