And al-Zahrānī, Abū al-Rabī‘, narrated to us, saying:
“Among these Jahmiyyah was a man whose outward conduct suggested adherence to the Rāfidah and a profession of love for ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah be pleased with him. A man who associated with him and knew his beliefs said to him: ‘I know that you neither follow the religion of Islam nor believe in it. What, then, led you to adopt the position of the Rāfidah and profess love for ‘Alī?’
“He replied: ‘Then I shall tell you the truth. If we made our actual beliefs public, we would be accused of unbelief and heresy. We have found people who profess love for ‘Alī and openly display it, yet revile whomever they wish, believe whatever they wish, and say whatever they wish. They are consequently identified with the Rāfidah and the Shia. We therefore found no subtler means for our doctrine than professing love for this man: we can then say whatever we wish, believe whatever we wish, and revile whomever we wish. We would rather be called Rāfidah and Shia than heretics and unbelievers. In our eyes, ‘Alī is no better than the others whom we revile.’”
Abū Sa‘īd ‘Uthmān ibn Sa‘īd al-Dārimī said:
“This man spoke truthfully in what