[Chapter: The Rāfidī’s Citation from al-Shahrastānī of His Account of the Dispute That Occurred among the Companions during the Prophet’s Illness—Peace Be upon Him]

Chapter

The Rāfidī said (1):

“Al-Shahrastānī—one of (2) those most fanatically biased against the Imāmiyyah—mentioned that, after Iblīs’s specious argument, the cause of corruption was the disagreement that occurred during the Prophet’s illness—peace and blessings be upon him—(3). The first dispute that arose during his illness was that which al-Bukhārī narrated (4) through his chain of transmission to Ibn Abbās, who said:

‘When the illness in which the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—died became severe, he said, “Bring me an inkwell and paper so that I may write for you a document after which (5) you will not go astray.”

‘Umar then said, “The man (6) is speaking deliriously. The Book of Allah is sufficient for us.” The clamor increased, so the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “Get up and leave me. Disputation should not take place in my presence.”’”

The response is that it should be said: The vast majority of what al-Shahrastānī and others like him among the writers on religions and sects transmit consists of material that they pass down from one to another, and much of it has not been critically verified with regard to