[A Historical Survey of the Emergence of Religious Innovations and Theological Schools]

The Muslims adhered to the guidance and religion of truth with which Allah had sent His Messenger—guidance consonant with sound transmitted evidence and clear reason. Then Uthmān [ibn Affān] (1)—may Allah be pleased with him—was killed, turmoil erupted, and the Muslims fought one another at Siffīn. The seceding faction then broke away—the faction concerning which the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said:

“A faction will secede at a time of division among the Muslims, and whichever of the two parties is closer to the truth will kill them.” (2)

They seceded when the two arbiters delivered their judgment and the people parted without reaching any agreement.

The innovation (3) of Shiism also arose. Its adherents included extremists who claimed divinity for Ali (4), as well as those who claimed that Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—had been explicitly designated as successor (5) and who reviled Abu Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both (6). [The Commander of the Faithful] Ali [may Allah be pleased with him] punished both groups (7): he fought the seceders and ordered that those who claimed divinity for him be burned.

One day, he came out and they prostrated themselves before him. He asked them, “What is this?”

They replied (8), “You are He.”

He asked, “Who am I?”

They replied, “You are Allah, besides whom there is no deity.”

He said, “Woe to you!”