Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abu Majliz narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) forbade his companions from fighting with the Khawarij until they themselves initiated hostilities. Accordingly, the Khawarij passed by Hazrat Abdullah bin Khabbab and seized him. Then one of them picked up a date that had fallen from a date palm and began to eat it, so another person rebuked him, saying, "This is a dhimmi's date; how can you consider it lawful for yourself?" So he spat the date out of his mouth. Then they passed by a pig, and a man struck it with his sword. Another person rebuked him, saying, "This is a dhimmi's pig; how can you consider it lawful for yourself?" Hazrat Abdullah bin Khabbab said, "Shall I not tell you of something more worthy of respect than these things?" They said, "Tell us." Hazrat Abdullah bin Khabbab said, "It is me." They advanced and cut off Hazrat Abdullah bin Khabbab's head. Then Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sent a message to them, saying, "Send the killer of Hazrat Abdullah bin Khabbab to me." They replied, "How can we send you his killer? We all killed him." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "Did you all kill him?" They said, "Yes." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said "Allahu Akbar" and then ordered his companions to attack them. He said, "By God! Ten men from among you will not be killed, and ten men from among them will not remain alive." So the people fought them. Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) ordered them to search for Dhu al-Thadiyya among them. The people searched for him and brought him to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). He asked, "Who knows him?" Then only one man was found who knew him. He said, "I saw him in Hira. I asked him, 'Where are you going?' He said, 'That way,' and then he pointed towards Kufa, though I did not know it." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "He is from among the jinn; he has spoken the truth."