Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 40702 — Reports on the Khawarij

Abu Ghalib said: I was in the Jami' Mosque of Damascus when people came with the heads of seventy Khawarij (Haruris). These heads were set up on the steps of the mosque. When Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) came and looked at their heads, he said: "These are the dogs of Hell. Beneath the sky, these are the worst of those who have been slain, and those whom they killed are the best of the slain beneath the sky." Then he wept, looked at me and said to me: "O Abu Ghalib, are you from the city of these people?" I said: "Yes." He said (I think he said): "May Allah protect you from them." Then he said: "Do you recite Surah Al Imran?" I said: "Yes." He said: "Allah Almighty says: 'In it are verses that are precise; they are the foundation of the Book, and others that are ambiguous. As for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow what is ambiguous in it, seeking discord and seeking its interpretation. And none knows its interpretation except Allah and those firm in knowledge.' [Al Imran: 7] And Allah Almighty says: 'On the Day when some faces will turn white and some faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black: Did you disbelieve after your faith? Then taste the punishment for what you used to deny.'" [Al Imran: 106] Abu Ghalib said: I said: "O Abu Umamah, I saw tears flowing from your eyes; what is the reason for this?" He said: "Yes, tears are flowing from my eyes out of mercy for them. They were among the people of Islam. The Children of Israel divided into seventy-one sects, and this Ummah will have one sect more; all of them will go to Hell except the great majority. Upon them is what they were charged with, and upon you is what you were charged with. If you obey him (the Messenger), you will be guided, and upon the one who conveys the message is only to make it clear. Listening and obeying is better than falling into division and disobedience." A man said to him: "O Abu Umamah, are you saying this from your own opinion, or have you heard it from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" He said: "If I said this from my own opinion, I would be someone audacious in matters of religion! I heard this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) not once or twice, but seven times."