is further evidence that this is a lie attributed to ‘Alī, and that ‘Alī never made such a claim, either during the caliphates of the three or during the events at Siffīn. He had debates and confrontations with his opponents, yet he never made this claim, nor did anyone make it on his behalf. He appointed the two arbitrators and sent Ibn ‘Abbās to debate the Khawārij. They mentioned his virtues, his early services to Islam, and his merits, but none of them ever mentioned that he was the wasī (entrusted representative) of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

It is well known that, had this been true, people would have had ample interest and motivation to transmit it even without these circumstances requiring its transmission. How much more so when these circumstances were present!

Since they transmitted accounts of his virtues and merits, such as the Prophet’s saying—peace be upon him:

“Tomorrow I shall surely give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, [and whom Allah and His Messenger love]” (1),

and his saying in the year of Tabūk:

“Are you not content to stand in relation to me as Aaron stood in relation to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me?” (2),

and his saying:

“You are of me, and I am of you” (3),

as well as other accounts of his virtues, yet did not transmit this claim despite the pressing need to mention it [nor did ‘Alī ever make this claim despite the pressing need to mention it] (4), it is clear that it is among the things invented by liars.

[Section: The Rāfidī’s eighth point—‘Alī’s killing of the unbelieving jinn—and its refutation]

(Section)

The Rāfidī said (5): “Eighth: What the majority have narrated: ‘When the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—set out for Banū al-Mustaliq, they had strayed from