angry and rendered speechless (1).’ And since he is the best of creation, he must be the Imam.”

The response may be given in several ways:

First: The authenticity of this report must be established. Although we have no doubt that it is false, only an obstinate person would object to requiring a claimant to establish the authenticity of what he reports. The mere fact that Abū Nuaym narrated it does not constitute proof, by agreement among the various Muslim groups.

Second: This is a fabricated lie, by agreement of [the scholars and] those versed (2) in transmitted reports.

Third: It may be said that this claim is countered by those who maintain that “those who believe and do righteous deeds” are those hostile to Alī, such as the Kharijites and others (3). They say that whoever is loyal to Alī is an unbelieving apostate and therefore is not among “those who believe and do righteous deeds.” In support of this, they cite His words:

“Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—it is they who are the disbelievers.”

[Sūrat al-Mā’idah: 44]

They say: Whoever makes men arbiters in the religion of Allah has judged by other than what Allah has revealed and is therefore an unbeliever; and whoever takes the unbeliever (4) as an ally is an unbeliever, because He says:

“Whoever among you takes them as allies is indeed one of them.” (5)

They also say that he, Uthmān, and those loyal to the two of them are apostates, citing the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

“Men will surely be driven away from my Basin just as a stray camel is driven away. I shall say, ‘O my Lord, my Companions! My Companions!’ It will then be said: ‘You do not know what they brought about after you. They never ceased turning back on their heels as apostates from the time you parted from them.’” (6)