for them on this subject, such as al-Marwāniyya, composed by al-Jāhiz (1). Another group fabricated virtues for Muʿāwiya and narrated hadiths from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in support of them, all of which are false. They also advance lengthy arguments [on this matter] (2), but this is not the place to discuss them.
According to the People of the Sunnah, however, these people are mistaken in this, even though the error of the Rāfida is graver [than theirs] (3). The Rāfida cannot refute (4) them with any sound argument while adhering to the Imamiyya doctrine, for the arguments of the Imamiyya are contradictory: they invoke arguments (5) that they invalidate elsewhere, and they invoke rational or scriptural evidence while rejecting evidence still stronger than it. This is unlike the People of the Sunnah, whose arguments are sound and consistent, just as are those of the Muslims in their dealings with [the Christians and other] (6) People (7) of the Book. Thus, the People of the Sunnah can vindicate Alī against anyone who disparages him [and reviles him] (8), or who claims that those who fought him had a better claim to the truth than he did, just as the Muslims can defend Christ (9) against the Jews and others who denied him—unlike the Christians