Al-Mu'jam al-Saghir

Abu Ghalib narrates: When the heads of the Khawarij were brought and placed on one of the steps of the mosque of Damascus, people were coming to see them. I also went out to see them, and Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) came riding on a donkey. He was wearing a Sunbulani shirt. He looked at them and said: "What has Satan done with this Ummah!" He said this twice, then said: "Under the shade of the sky, the worst of those killed are these, and those whom they killed are the best of those killed." Then he said: "These (Khawarij) are the dogs of Hell." He said this three times and then wept, and then went back. Abu Ghalib said: I also followed him, then I said: "I heard something from you a little while ago, did you say that?" He said: "Subhan Allah, how could I dare to say such a thing? I have heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say it many times." I said: "Then you also wept," so he said: "Yes, out of pity for them, for they too were once Muslims." Then he said to me: "Do you recite the Qur'an?" I said: "Why not?" So he said: "Recite Al-Imran." I recited it, then he said: "Have you heard that Allah Almighty says: ' Those in whose hearts is deviation follow that which is unspecific of it', as if there was deviation in their hearts which led them astray." Then he said: "Recite from the end of the hundred verses," so I recited: ' On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], 'Did you disbelieve after your belief?'' I said: "O Abu Umamah! Are these the same people?" He said: "Yes! These are the same people."