A fourth group regards Alī as the imam and holds that he exercised independent judgment and was correct in fighting, while those who fought him(1) were [people who exercised independent judgment](2) but were mistaken. This is the view of many proponents of legal opinion and speculative theology(3), including followers of Abū Hanīfa, Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, Ahmad, and others.
A fifth group says: Although Alī was the caliph and was closer to the truth than Muʿāwiya, it was therefore(4) better to refrain from fighting, and both sides ought to abstain from fighting. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:
“There will be turmoil in which the one sitting is better than the one standing, and the one standing in it(5) is better than the one who hastens toward it.”(6)
It is also authentically reported that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said concerning al-Hasan:
“This son of mine is a leader,
(1) N reads: “and those who fought him.”
(2) “Exercising independent judgment” is omitted from N and M.
(3) A and B read: “speculative theology and legal opinion.”
(4) N and M read: “and it was.”
(5) “In it” is omitted from M, A, and B.
(6) The hadith is narrated from Abū Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him—in al-Bukhārī, 4/198–199 (*Kitāb al-Manāqib* [Book of Virtues], chapter “Signs of Prophethood”). Its wording there is: “There will be tribulations in which the one sitting is better than the one standing, the one standing is better than the one walking, and the one walking is better than the one hastening. Whoever exposes himself to them will be overtaken by them, and whoever finds a refuge or shelter should seek refuge in it.” The hadith also appears in al-Bukhārī, 9/51 (*Kitāb al-Fitan* [Book of Tribulations], chapter “There Will Be a Tribulation in Which the One Sitting Is Better than the One Standing”); Muslim, 4/2211–2212 (*Kitāb al-Fitan* [Book of Tribulations], chapter “The Descent of Tribulations Like Raindrops”); and *al-Musnad* (al-Maʿārif ed.), 14/207–208. A version with different wording is also narrated from Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqās—may Allah be pleased with him—in *al-Musnad* (al-Maʿārif ed.), 3/29; Ahmad Shākir graded it authentic. The hadith also appears with a lengthy addition cited by Ibn Taymiyya in *Kitāb al-Istiqāma*, 2/341, where I discussed its locations in *Sahīh Muslim*, the *Sunan* of Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, and *al-Musnad*.