among them, for Jahmī doctrine came to predominate among the latter. Thus, the early Shia were better than the Khawārij whom the Commander of the Faithful, Alī ibn Abī Tālib, fought at the command of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Many of the later Rāfidah, however, became far worse than the Khawārij. Indeed, some of them are among the most hypocritical of people, on a par with the hypocrites who lived at the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or exceeding them or falling short of them in hypocrisy. Hence the statement of