contain accounts of events in Islamic history that occurred after the third century AH, such as Christians entering Muslim lands and similar events, demonstrating that they were composed some two hundred years after Ja‘far.

Another example is the report that some people attribute to ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: “The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and Abū Bakr would converse, [while I was] like a black African among them.” This and similar reports are fabricated lies, by agreement of those versed in such matters.

The heretics and the ignorant among ascetics and worshippers entertain all manner of such notions. For example, they relate that the people of the Suffah fought alongside the disbelievers against the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, when victory was not on his side. They invoke this to argue that the spiritual adept sides with whoever prevails, even if he is a disbeliever. They also relate that Allah Most High acquainted the people of the Suffah with the secret He revealed to His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, on the morning of the Ascension. [The inventors of these] falsehoods were not even skilled at lying, for the Suffah was only established in Medina, whereas the Ascension took place in Mecca, according to explicit textual evidence and scholarly consensus. Indeed, it is known to every scholar familiar with the life of the Prophet