And Uthmān’s supporters agree on giving precedence to Abū Bakr and regarding both men as superior to Uthmān. Most of Alī’s later supporters, however, condemn and revile them both. The Rāfidah unanimously hate and condemn them, and many declare them unbelievers. Many of the Zaydīs also condemn and revile them—even curse them. The best of the Zaydīs are those who regard Alī as superior (1) to them both, yet condemn Uthmān or speak against him.
Among Uthmān’s supporters there were also those who delayed prayer beyond its appointed time, delaying the noon or afternoon prayer. Thus, when the Abbasids came to power, they observed the prayer times more carefully than the Umayyads. Yet Alī’s exclusive supporters, who do not acknowledge the leadership of any of the three imams or anyone else, are far more neglectful of prayer—and indeed of other religious ordinances. They perform neither Friday prayer nor congregational prayer, leaving the mosques unused. In bringing forward the afternoon and night prayers and delaying the sunset prayer, they deviate far more than the others (2). Moreover, they venerate shrines while leaving mosques unused, imitating the polytheists and the People of the Book, who would build a place of worship over the grave of a righteous man when he died among them. How can the two be compared?!
The evil and corruption among Alī’s supporters are many times greater than the evil and corruption among Uthmān’s supporters; and the goodness and righteousness among Uthmān’s supporters are (* many times greater than the goodness among Alī’s supporters. And the Umayyads were supporters of