is a hypocrite—as ʿUmar believed concerning Hātib, saying, “Let me strike off this hypocrite’s head.”

Or someone may believe that anyone who becomes angry in defense of some hypocrites is a hypocrite—as Usayd ibn Hudayr believed concerning Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah, saying, “You are a hypocrite arguing on behalf of the hypocrites.”

Or someone may believe that certain words or verses are not part of the Quran because they have not been established for him through reliable transmission. Thus, a number of the early generations reportedly rejected certain wordings of the Quran. One of them rejected:

“Your Lord has decreed,”

saying, “It is actually: ‘Your Lord has enjoined.’” Another rejected His words:

“When Allah took the covenant of the prophets,”

saying, “It is actually ‘the covenant of the Children of Israel.’” This is also how it appears in the reading of ʿAbd Allāh. Another rejected:

“Have those who believe not yet realized,”

maintaining that it is actually: “Has it not become clear to those who believe?”

Likewise, ʿUmar objected to Hishām ibn al-Hakam when he found him reciting Surah al-Furqān differently from the way he himself recited it. Similarly, some of the early generations objected to certain reciters’ use of readings unfamiliar to them, until ʿUthmān united them upon the standard codex.

Likewise, some among the earlier and later generations denied that Allah wills acts of disobedience, believing this to mean that Allah loves them, is pleased with them, and commands them. Another group denied