for nothing in the Quran’s apparent wording specifies the right hand. However, the specification (1) of the right hand appears in Ibn Masūd’s reading: “Then cut off their right hands,” and this is the practice established by the Sunnah. But where is the report that Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—amputated the left hand? Where is the sound chain of transmission for it? The books of the scholars versed in transmitted reports are readily available, yet they contain no such account. Nor did the scholars of juristic disagreement report it (2) as a legal position, even though they held Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—in great esteem.

[The Rāfidī’s charge against Abū Bakr that he burned al-Fujāah al-Sulamī with fire, and the response to it]

(Chapter)

(3)
The Rāfidī (4) said:

“And he burned al-Fujāah al-Sulamī with fire, although the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—forbade (5) burning with fire.”

The response is that reports of Ali burning people with fire are better known and more firmly established than reports of Abū Bakr doing so. [It has indeed been established] in the Sahīh (6) that a group of heretics from among the extremist Shia were brought before Ali, and he burned them with fire. When Ibn Abbās learned of this, he said:

“Had it been I, I would not have burned them with fire, because the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—forbade punishing anyone with Allah’s punishment. Instead, I would have struck off their necks, in accordance with the Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace: ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.’” (7)