The compilers of the authentic hadith collections have transmitted these words of ‘Alī through several routes. For example, one authentic report relates that Abū Juhayfah said:

“I asked ‘Alī, ‘Do you have anything that is not in the Quran?’ He replied, ‘No, by Him who splits the grain and creates the soul! We have nothing except what is in the Quran, apart from an understanding of His Book that Allah grants a man, and what is in this document.’ I asked, ‘What is in the document?’ He replied, ‘Blood money, the release of captives, and that a Muslim is not to be killed for killing a disbeliever.’”

Al-Bukhārī’s wording is:

“‘Do you have any revelation other than what is in Allah’s Book?’ He replied, ‘No, by Him who splits the grain and creates the soul! I know of nothing except an understanding of the Quran that Allah grants a man.’”

The two authentic hadith collections also relate, through Ibrāhīm al-Taymī, from his father—and this is one of the soundest chains of transmission on earth—that ‘Alī said:

“We have nothing except Allah’s Book and this document from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: ‘Medina is a sanctuary between ‘Ayr and Thawr.’”

In a narration recorded by Muslim:

“‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib addressed us, saying: ‘Whoever claims that we have a book that we read, other than Allah’s Book and what is in this document’—the narrator said, ‘His document was hanging in the sheath of his sword’—‘has lied. It contains the ages of camels and certain matters concerning wounds, and in it the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Medina is a sanctuary.”’” The hadith continues.

As for the lies and secrets they claim to have received from Ja‘far al-Sādiq, these are among the greatest fabrications. It is even said that no one has had as many lies attributed to him as Ja‘far, may Allah be pleased with him. Among these works attributed to him is the book al-Jafr, in which they claim he wrote