It was narrated from 'Ali that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) sent an army and he appointed a man over them. He (the commander) lit a fire and said: "Enter it." Some people wanted to enter it, but others said: "We are trying to flee from this." Mention of that was made to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and he said to those who had wanted to enter the fire: "If you had entered it, you would have remained in it until the Day of Resurrection." And he said good words to the others. He (s.a.w) said: "There is no obedience if it involves disobedience towards Allah; obedience is only in that which is right and proper."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَلِىٍّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بَعَثَ جَيْشًا وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلاً فَأَوْقَدَ نَارًا وَقَالَ ادْخُلُوهَا. فَأَرَادَ نَاسٌ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ إِنَّا قَدْ فَرَرْنَا مِنْهَا. فَذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ لِلَّذِينَ أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا « لَوْ دَخَلْتُمُوهَا لَمْ تَزَالُوا فِيهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ». وَقَالَ لِلآخَرِينَ قَوْلاً حَسَنًا وَقَالَ « لاَ طَاعَةَ فِى مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِى الْمَعْرُوفِ ».

It was narrated from 'Ubadah bin Al-Walid bin 'Ubadah, from his father, that his grandfather said: "We swore allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), pledging to hear and obey, at times of hardship and times of ease, whether we liked it or not, even if the leaders acted in a selfish manner, and promising not to contest any position of authority, and not to fear the blame of any blamer in the cause of Allah."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ وَعُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ بَايَعْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَلَى السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ فِى الْعُسْرِ وَالْيُسْرِ وَالْمَنْشَطِ وَالْمَكْرَهِ وَعَلَى أَثَرَةٍ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى أَنْ لاَ نُنَازِعَ الأَمْرَ أَهْلَهُ وَعَلَى أَنْ نَقُولَ بِالْحَقِّ أَيْنَمَا كُنَّا لاَ نَخَافُ فِى اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لاَئِمٍ.

It was narrated that Junadah bin Abi Umayyah said: "We entered upon 'Ubadah bin As-Samit when he was sick. We said: 'Tell us, may Allah give you health, a Hadith by means of which Allah may benefit us, that you heard from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w).' He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) called us, and we swore allegiance to him, and among the pledges that he took from us was that we would hear and obey, whether we liked it or not, at times of hardship and times of ease, even if the leaders acted in a selfish manner, and promising not to contest any position of authority, and he said: "Unless you see blatant Kufr (disbelief), for which you have proof from Allah."

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ وَهْبِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَمِّى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ حَدَّثَنِى بُكَيْرٌ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ جُنَادَةَ بْنِ أَبِى أُمَيَّةَ قَالَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ وَهُوَ مَرِيضٌ فَقُلْنَا حَدِّثْنَا أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ بِحَدِيثٍ يَنْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم-. فَقَالَ دَعَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَبَايَعْنَاهُ فَكَانَ فِيمَا أَخَذَ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ بَايَعَنَا عَلَى السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ فِى مَنْشَطِنَا وَمَكْرَهِنَا وَعُسْرِنَا وَيُسْرِنَا وَأَثَرَةٍ عَلَيْنَا وَأَنْ لاَ نُنَازِعَ الأَمْرَ أَهْلَهُ قَالَ « إِلاَّ أَنْ تَرَوْا كُفْرًا بَوَاحًا عِنْدَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِيهِ بُرْهَانٌ ».

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "The ruler is a shield from behind whom they fight and by whom they are protected. If he enjoins fear of Allah and is just, then he will be rewarded for that, but if he enjoins otherwise, that will count against him."

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنِى زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ حَدَّثَنِى وَرْقَاءُ عَنْ أَبِى الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ فَإِنْ أَمَرَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَدَلَ كَانَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ أَجْرٌ وَإِنْ يَأْمُرْ بِغَيْرِهِ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهُ ».

It was narrated that Abu Hazim said: "I stayed with Abu Hurairah for five years, and I heard him narrate that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: 'The Children of Israel were ruled by the Prophets. Every time one Prophet died, another Prophet would succeed him. But there will be no Prophet after me, but there will be many caliphs.' They said: 'What do you command us to do?' He said: 'Fulfill the oath of allegiance to the first one and not the second (if there are two caliphs at one time), and give them their dues, for Allah will question them about that which He entrusted to them."'

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ فُرَاتٍ الْقَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِى حَازِمٍ قَالَ قَاعَدْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ خَمْسَ سِنِينَ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « كَانَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِىٌّ خَلَفَهُ نَبِىٌّ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ نَبِىَّ بَعْدِى وَسَتَكُونُ خُلَفَاءُ فَتَكْثُرُ ». قَالُوا فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا قَالَ « فُوا بِبَيْعَةِ الأَوَّلِ فَالأَوَّلِ وَأَعْطُوهُمْ حَقَّهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَائِلُهُمْ عَمَّا اسْتَرْعَاهُمْ ».

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'After me there will be selfishness and things that you object to.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you command us to do if any of us lives to see that?' He said: 'Fulfill the duties that you owe, and ask Allah for your rights.'"

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ وَوَكِيعٌ ح وَحَدَّثَنِى أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلِىُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « إِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ بَعْدِى أَثَرَةٌ وَأُمُورٌ تُنْكِرُونَهَا ». قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ تَأْمُرُ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنَّا ذَلِكَ قَالَ « تُؤَدُّونَ الْحَقَّ الَّذِى عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَسْأَلُونَ اللَّهَ الَّذِى لَكُمْ ».

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abd Rabb Al-Ka'bah said: "I entered the Masjid and saw 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As sitting in the shade of the Ka'bah, and the people were gathered around him. I came to them and sat down with him, and he said: 'We were with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) on a journey, and we made a stop. Some of us began to repair tents, and some of us competed in shooting (arrows), and some of us grazed their animals. Then the caller of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) called out: "As-Salatu Jami'ah (prayer is about to begin)." We gathered around the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and he said: "There was no Prophet before me but it was his duty to tell his Ummah of the best of what he knew was good for them, and the worst of what he knew was bad for them. "The time of peace and security for this Ummah has been made in its first era, and its last era will be afflicted with trials and things that you object to. Fitnah (tribulation) will come in waves, one after another. A Fitnah will come and the believer will say: 'This is going to cause my doom.' Then when it ends, another Fitnah will come, and the believer will say: 'This is the one.' Whoever would like to be delivered from Hell and enter Paradise, let him die believing in Allah and the Last Day, and let him treat people as he would like to be treated. Whoever swears allegiance to a ruler, giving him his oath with sincerity, let him obey him if he can. If another comes and disputes with him, then strike the neck of the other one.'" I (the narrator) drew close to him and said to hiin: 'I adjure you by Allah, did you hear this from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)?' He pointed to his ears and his heart and said: 'My ears heard it and my heart understood.' I said to him: 'This son of your paternal uncle, Mu'awiyah, enjoins us to consume our wealth unlawfully amongst ourselves, and to kill ourselves, but Allah, glorified and exalted is He, says: O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you...' He remained silent for a while, then he said: 'Obey him in that which is obedience to Allah, and disobey him in that which is disobedience to Allah.'"

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ جَالِسٌ فِى ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ وَالنَّاسُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَتَيْتُهُمْ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى سَفَرٍ فَنَزَلْنَا مَنْزِلاً فَمِنَّا مَنْ يُصْلِحُ خِبَاءَهُ وَمِنَّا مَنْ يَنْتَضِلُ وَمِنَّا مَنْ هُوَ فِى جَشَرِهِ إِذْ نَادَى مُنَادِى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- الصَّلاَةَ جَامِعَةً. فَاجْتَمَعْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ « إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِىٌّ قَبْلِى إِلاَّ كَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَدُلَّ أُمَّتَهُ عَلَى خَيْرِ مَا يَعْلَمُهُ لَهُمْ وَيُنْذِرَهُمْ شَرَّ مَا يَعْلَمُهُ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتَكُمْ هَذِهِ جُعِلَ عَافِيَتُهَا فِى أَوَّلِهَا وَسَيُصِيبُ آخِرَهَا بَلاَءٌ وَأُمُورٌ تُنْكِرُونَهَا وَتَجِىءُ فِتْنَةٌ فَيُرَقِّقُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا وَتَجِىءُ الْفِتْنَةُ فَيَقُولُ الْمُؤْمِنُ هَذِهِ مُهْلِكَتِى. ثُمَّ تَنْكَشِفُ وَتَجِىءُ الْفِتْنَةُ فَيَقُولُ الْمُؤْمِنُ هَذِهِ هَذِهِ. فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُزَحْزَحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَيَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَلْتَأْتِهِ مَنِيَّتُهُ وَهُوَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَلْيَأْتِ إِلَى النَّاسِ الَّذِى يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُؤْتَى إِلَيْهِ وَمَنْ بَايَعَ إِمَامًا فَأَعْطَاهُ صَفْقَةَ يَدِهِ وَثَمَرَةَ قَلْبِهِ فَلْيُطِعْهُ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعَ فَإِنْ جَاءَ آخَرُ يُنَازِعُهُ فَاضْرِبُوا عُنُقَ الآخَرِ ». فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ آنْتَ سَمِعْتَ هَذَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَأَهْوَى إِلَى أُذُنَيْهِ وَقَلْبِهِ بِيَدَيْهِ وَقَالَ سَمِعَتْهُ أُذُنَاىَ وَوَعَاهُ قَلْبِى. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ هَذَا ابْنُ عَمِّكَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نَأْكُلَ أَمْوَالَنَا بَيْنَنَا بِالْبَاطِلِ وَنَقْتُلَ أَنْفُسَنَا وَاللَّهُ يَقُولُ (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْكُمْ وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا) قَالَ فَسَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ أَطِعْهُ فِى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَاعْصِهِ فِى مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ .

It was narrated from Usaid bin Hudair that a man from among the Ansar took the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) aside and said: "Will you not appoint me as you appointed so-and-so?" He said: "You will encounter selfishness after I am gone, so be patient until you meet me at the Cistern."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أُسَيْدِ بْنِ حُضَيْرٍ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ خَلاَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ أَلاَ تَسْتَعْمِلُنِى كَمَا اسْتَعْمَلْتَ فُلاَنًا فَقَالَ « إِنَّكُمْ سَتَلْقَوْنَ بَعْدِى أَثَرَةً فَاصْبِرُوا حَتَّى تَلْقَوْنِى عَلَى الْحَوْضِ ».

It was narrated from 'Alqamah bin Wa'il Al-Hadrami that his father said: Salamah bin Yazid Al-Ju'fi asked the Messenger of Akkah (s.a.w): "O Messenger of Allah, what do you think, if there are appointed over us rulers who demand their rights and withhold our rights, what do you command us to do?" He turned away from him, then he asked him again and he turned away from him, then when he asked him the second or third time, Al-Ash'ath bin Qais pulled him aside and he said: "Listen and obey, for on them will be their burden and on you will be your burden."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ الْحَضْرَمِىِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ سَأَلَ سَلَمَةُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِىُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ يَا نَبِىَّ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَامَتْ عَلَيْنَا أُمَرَاءُ يَسْأَلُونَا حَقَّهُمْ وَيَمْنَعُونَا حَقَّنَا فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ فِى الثَّانِيَةِ أَوْ فِى الثَّالِثَةِ فَجَذَبَهُ الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ وَقَالَ « اسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَا حُمِّلُوا وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَا حُمِّلْتُمْ ».

Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman said: "The people used to ask the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) about good things, but I used to ask him about bad things, fearing that I would live to see such things. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we were in a state of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and evil, then Allah sent us this good (i.e., Islam). Will there be any evil after this good?' He said: 'Yes.' I said: 'Will there by any good after that evil?' He said: 'Yes, but it will be tainted.' I said: 'How will it be tainted?' He said: '(There will be) some people who follow an example other than my example and follow a way other than my way. You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of others.' "I said: 'Will there be any evil after that good?' He said: 'Yes, there will be people calling at the gates of Hell, and whoever responds to their call, they will throw them into it (the Fire).' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us.' He said: 'They will be from among our people, speaking our language.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you command me to do if I live to see such a thing?' He said: 'Adhere to the Jama'ah (group, community, main body) of the Muslims and their Imam (leader).' I asked: 'What if there is no Jama'ah and no leader?' He said: 'Then keep away from all those groups, even if you have to bite (cling) on the roots of a tree until death overtakes you while you are in that state.'"

حَدَّثَنِى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ حَدَّثَنِى بُسْرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَضْرَمِىُّ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا إِدْرِيسَ الْخَوْلاَنِىَّ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِى فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِى جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ شَرٌّ قَالَ « نَعَمْ » فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ « نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ ». قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ « قَوْمٌ يَسْتَنُّونَ بِغَيْرِ سُنَّتِى وَيَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِى تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ ». فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ « نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا ». فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا. قَالَ « نَعَمْ قَوْمٌ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا ». قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَرَى إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِى ذَلِكَ قَالَ « تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ ». فَقُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ « فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ عَلَى أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ».