They said:

Uthmān’s particular supporters were better than Alī’s particular supporters, greater in goodness and less prone to evil. The chief religious innovations for which Uthmān’s supporters were criticized were their hostility toward Alī and their reviling him from the pulpits (1), owing to the fighting that had taken place between them and him. Nevertheless, they did not declare him an unbeliever, nor did they declare those who loved him unbelievers.

Among Alī’s supporters, however, are those who declare the Companions and the Muslim community unbelievers and curse (2) the leading Companions—conduct far worse (3) than the former, many times over.

Uthmān’s supporters fight the unbelievers, whereas the Rāfidah (Rejectionists) do not. There were no heretics or apostates among Uthmān’s supporters, whereas heretics and apostates have joined Alī’s supporters in numbers known only to Allah Most High.

Uthmān’s supporters did not ally themselves with unbelievers, whereas the Rāfidah ally themselves with Jews, Christians and polytheists to fight the Muslims, as is known from incidents involving them (4).

None of Uthmān’s supporters claims divinity or prophethood for him, whereas many who have joined Alī’s supporters claim prophethood or divinity for him.

None of Uthmān’s supporters has said that Uthmān is an infallible imam or that he was explicitly designated as such, whereas the Rāfidah claim that Alī was explicitly designated and is infallible.