that are well known, nor has it been transmitted through any known chain of transmission. Even if the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—had said it, that would not necessarily mean that they had heard it, for none of them heard everything the Messenger—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said. How, then, could it be assumed that they heard it when it is not even known that the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said it, and it has not been transmitted through any known chain? Indeed, how could it be assumed when the hadith scholars unanimously know it to be a fabricated lie falsely ascribed to the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him? (1)

ʿAlī—may Allah be pleased with him—did not fight at the Battle of the Camel and Siffīn at the command of the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. Rather, this was a judgment he himself had reached.

Abū Dāwūd said in his Sunan (2):

“Ismāʿīl ibn Ibrāhīm al-Hudhalī narrated to us: Ibn ʿUlayyah narrated to us, from Yūnus, from al-Hasan, from Qays ibn ʿAbbād, who said:

‘I said to ʿAlī—may Allah be pleased with him: “Tell us (3) about this campaign of yours: Was it pursuant to an instruction entrusted to you by the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—or was it a judgment you reached?”

‘He replied: “The Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—entrusted nothing (4) to me; rather, it was a judgment I reached.”’”

If anyone who fought ʿAlī had thereby been one who fought the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—and an apostate, ʿAlī would have treated them as apostates are treated. It has been established through mass-transmitted reports concerning ʿAlī (5) that, when he fought them at the Battle of the Camel, he did not pursue those who fled, finish off their wounded, or seize any of their property as spoils (6), nor did he take captive (7)