They recited the Qur'an but it did not go past their...

They recited the Qur'an but it did not go past their clavicles because their hearts were covered with their apostasy. Nothing of the light of the Qur'an got into their hearts. They exaggerated in offering prayer and fasting but they ignored the rights of Islam by apostatizing and being away from its guidance. Their sign, as the Prophet (s) had predicted, appeared to the people.

It was a black man whose upper arm was like a woman’s breast or like a dangling piece of flesh as the Prophet (s) had said. The Prophet (s) had confirmed, through his sayings about this apostate group, that the umma would remain prevailing unlike what the fabricators had fabricated. It was the unseen that Allah had revealed to the Prophet (s). Allah said: “The Knower of the unseen!

So He does not reveal His secrets to any except to him whom He chooses as a messenger; for surely He makes a guard to march before [^1] Ahmad’s Musnad, vol.3 p.56. [^2] The Prophet (s) had predicted that: “They will revolt against the best group. (He means Imam Ali (s) and his followers).” [^3] Their appearance was in Siffeen when the people were in two groups; one with Imam Ali (s) and the other with Mo’awiya.

[^4] The Prophet (s) said: “They will be killed by the one, who is the nearest to the truth” or “…the worthiest of the truth” in another tradition mentioned by Muslim in his Sahih. (156) him and after him. Qur'an, 72:26-27” Let us finish our speech about this apostate group with a tradition narrated by Jundub[^1] and mentioned by at-Tabarani in his book al-Awsat. Jundub said: “When the Kharijites parted with Ali, he decided to pursue them and we joined him. We moved until we reached their camp.

There were noises like those of bees. They were busy reciting the Qur'an and among them there were notable and respected persons. When I saw them, I hesitated to fight them. I stepped aside, fixed my spear in the ground, got down of my horse, put off my burnoose, spread my armor on me, held the halter of my horse and began praying. I said in my prayer: “O Allah, if fighting these people is obedience to You, allow me to fight them and if it is disobedience to You, show me the truth.

” As I was doing so, Ali bin Abu Talib came near to me and said: “O Jundub, ask Allah to protect you from His wrath!” I beseeched him. He began praying.