the scholars. It is well known that many of the Companions spoke critically of Alī, and the case against them was based solely on the Quran and Sunnah, not on the statement of another Companion.

Fourth: We know with certainty that, for the overwhelming majority of the hypocrites, the feature by which they were recognized from (1) the tone of their speech was not hatred of Alī. Interpreting the Quran in this manner is therefore a manifest fabrication.

Fifth: Alī’s enmity toward the disbelievers and hypocrites was no greater than Umar’s. Rather, we do not know them to have been as troubled by him as they were by Umar; nor do we know of any instance in which they were troubled by him without their hatred of Umar being still more intense (2).

Sixth: It is established in an authentic hadith that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“The sign of faith is love for the Ansār (3), and the sign of hypocrisy is hatred for the Ansār.”

He also said:

“No man who believes in Allah and the Last Day hates the Ansār” (4).

Thus, it would have been more appropriate to recognize the hypocrites from the tone of their speech by their hatred of the Ansār.

These hadiths are more authentic than the report narrated “from Alī, who said: [Indeed,] (5) it was the unlettered Prophet’s covenant with me that no one but a believer loves me and no one but a hypocrite hates me.” This is one of the reports recorded by Muslim alone. It is transmitted by Adī ibn Thābit, from Zirr ibn Hubaysh, from Alī (6). Al-Bukhārī did not include this hadith, unlike the hadiths concerning the Ansār,