Allah has also cursed them , and for them is the lasting torment.

Allah has also cursed them , and for them is the lasting torment.[^16] So, there were people cursed by Allah, and who shall reside forever in Jahannam , among the Sahabah. The second point in the hadith is that the righteous Sahabah were unable to recognize the hypocritical Sahabah except through the latter’s hatred of ‘Ali. It is noteworthy that there is no claim whatsoever that hatred of Amir al-Muminin was the only sign of hypocrisy. Rather, it was the most effective, the only failproof tool.

All the other signs – such as lying, failure to fulfil promises, laziness during Salat , and so on – could be found in some people who were not hypocrites too, albeit in smaller quantities. However, as for hatred of ‘Ali, it is an absolute proof of hypocrisy. It is wholly impossible for a true believer to hate him in any circumstance, in line with the testimony of the Messenger of Allah.

Imam Muslim records: حدثنا أبو بكر بن أبي شيبة حدثنا وكيع وأبو معاوية عن الأعمش ح وحدثنا يحيى بن يحيى (واللفظ له) أخبرنا أبو معاوية عن الأعمش عن عدي بن ثابت عن زر قال قال علي والذي فلق الحبة وبرأ النسمة إنه لعهد النبي الأمي صلى الله عليه و سلم إلى أن لا يحبني إلا مؤمن ولا يبغضني إلا منافق Abu Bakr b. Abi Shaybah – Waki’ and Abu Mu’awiyah – al-A’mash, AND Yahya b. Yahya – Abu Mu’awiyah – al-A’mash – Adi b.

Thabit – Zirr: ‘Ali said: “I swear by the One Who split up the seed and created something living, the Ummi Prophet verily informed me that none loves me except a believer and that none hates me except a hypocrite .”[^17] Imam Ahmad also records his mutaba’ah for Ibn Abi Shaybah: حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا وكيع ثنا الأعمش عن عدى بن ثابت عن زر بن حبيش عن على رضي الله عنه قال عهد إلى النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم انه لا يحبك الا مؤمن ولا يبغضك الا منافق ‘Abd Allah (b. Ahmad) – my father (Ahmad b.

Hanbal) – Waki’ – al-A’mash – ‘Adi b. Thabit – Zirr b. Hubaysh – ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: The Prophet, peace be upon him, informed me saying, “None loves you except a believer, and none hates you except a hypocrite .”[^18] Shaykh al-Arnauṭ comments: إسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين Its chain is sahih upon the standard of the two Shaykhs ^19 Imam al-Tirmidhi has also a third mutaba’ah for Waki’: حدثنا عيسى بن عثمان ابن أخي يحيى بن عيسى حدثنا أبو عيسى الرملي عن الأعمش عن عدي بن ثابت عن زر بن حبيش عن علي قال لقد عهد إلى النبي الأمي صلى الله عليه و سلم أنه لا يحبك إلا مؤمن ولا يبغضك إلا منافق ‘Isa b.

‘Uthman, son of the brother of Yahya b. ‘Isa – Abu ‘Isa al-Ramli – al-Am’ash – ‘Adi b.