Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 40744 — Reports on the Khawarij

Umayr bin Zawdhi Abu Kathir said: Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed us one day. During that address the Khawarij stood up and cut off his speech. He came down and went into his chamber, and we went in with him. He said: "I was eaten on the day the white bull was eaten." Then he said: "My likeness is that of those three bulls and a lion who came together in a thicket. One bull was white, one red and one black. Whenever the lion tried to eat these bulls, the three of them would come together, confront the lion and hold him back. One day the lion said to the red and the black bull: 'The colour of the white bull is the cause of our disgrace in this thicket. So do this: let me eat that bull, and then we three will live at ease in this thicket. My colour and yours are alike.' So the two bulls fell for his trick and agreed to this, and the lion attacked at once and finished off the white bull. (2) After that, whenever he wanted to kill either of the two bulls, the two of them would come together and hold him back. Then one day the lion said to the red bull: 'O red bull, because of the black one being in this place, our honour is being spoiled. Permit me to eat him, and then you and I will live here alone. My colour is like yours and your colour is like mine.' So the red bull gave him permission, and he finished off the black bull. (3) Then he waited for a while, and then he said to the red bull: 'O red bull, I am going to eat you.' He said: 'Will you eat me?' He said: 'Yes, I am going to eat you.' The bull said: 'If you must eat me, then permit me to make three calls, and after that do as you wish.' Then the bull said: 'I was in fact eaten on the day the white bull was eaten.' (4) Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Know that on the day Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred, on that very day I became weak."