52 — Abu Bakr ibn Abī Dāwūd also narrated to us: Ahmad ibn Sālih narrated to us: Abd Allah ibn Wahb narrated to us: Amr—that is, Ibn al-Hārith—informed me, from Bukayr—that is, Ibn al-Ashajj—from Busr ibn Saīd, from Ubayd Allah ibn Abī Rāfi, the freedman of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—that when the Harurites broke away while they were with Ali ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah honor his countenance—they said, “Judgment belongs to Allah alone.”

Ali—may Allah honor his countenance—replied, “A true statement ⦗355⦘ intended to serve a false purpose. The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—described a people whose characteristics I recognize in these men. They speak the truth with their tongues, but it does not pass beyond their collarbones”—and he pointed to his throat. “Of all Allah’s creatures, they are the most hateful to Him Most High. Among them is a black man, one of whose hands resembles an ewe’s udder or teat.”

He said: When Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—had killed them, he said, “Look for him.” They searched but found nothing. He then said, “Go back and search again. By Allah, I have neither lied nor been lied to,” repeating this twice or three times. They later found him in a ruin and brought him to Ali, placing him before him.

Ubayd Allah said, “I was present during that affair of theirs and heard what Ali said about them.”