Those acquainted with these affairs agree that the fiercest attacks against those who face the qiblah, and the gravest harm inflicted upon Muslims by people claiming to belong to that community, have come from factions affiliated with them. They are more harmful to the religion and its followers, and further removed from the laws of Islam, than the Harūrī Khawārij. They have therefore been the most dishonest sects of the Muslim community. Among the groups claiming allegiance to the qiblah, none lie more, believe falsehood more readily, or reject truth more persistently than they do. Hypocrisy, in particular, is more evident among them than among other people. Concerning this, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust.”

Another narration states:

“Whoever possesses four traits is a thorough hypocrite, and whoever possesses one of them has a trait of hypocrisy until he abandons it: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; when he makes a covenant, he betrays it; and when he disputes, he transgresses all bounds.”

Everyone who has dealt with them knows that they possess these traits. This is why they practise dissimulation, which is a hallmark of the hypocrites and the Jews, and employ it in their dealings with Muslims:

“They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts.”

They swear that they did not say it, although they did. They swear by Allah to please the believers, whereas Allah and His Messenger have a greater right that they should seek to please Him.

They resemble the Jews in many respects, especially the Samaritans among the Jews, whom they resemble more closely than the other groups. They resemble them in claiming that the imamate belongs to