Their prayer does not pass beyond their collarbones. They pass out of Islam as an arrow passes through its quarry. If the army that encounters them knew what had been decreed for them through the words of their Prophet, they would cease doing good deeds. Their distinguishing sign is that among them is a man with an upper arm but no forearm; at the end of his upper arm is something like the nipple of a breast, bearing a few white hairs.”

By Allah, I certainly hope that these are those people, for they have shed blood that is forbidden to shed and raided people’s grazing livestock. So march forth in the name of Allah.’ He then related the hadith to its end.”

Also in Sahīh Muslim:

“Ubayd Allah ibn Abī Rāfiʿ, Alī’s scribe, reported that when the Harūriyya rebelled, he was with Alī, may Allah be pleased with him. They said, ‘Judgment belongs to Allah alone.’

Alī replied:

‘A true statement intended for a false purpose. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, described people whose characteristics I certainly recognize in these men. They speak the truth with their tongues, but it goes no further than here’—and he pointed to his throat—‘They are among the most hateful of Allah’s creatures to Him. Among them is a black man, one of whose hands resembles a ewe’s teat or the nipple of a breast.’

When Alī ibn Tālib killed them, he said, ‘Search.’ They searched but found nothing.

He said, ‘Go back! By Allah, I have not lied, nor have I been lied to’—repeating this twice or three times. Then they found him in a ruined place and brought him and laid him before Alī.”

This sign mentioned by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, identifies the first of them to emerge; they are not confined to those particular people. For he has stated