Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Amir, may Allah have mercy on him, says that Haritha bin Badr al-Tamimi was from among the people of Basra. He spread corruption in the land and fought. Then he discussed the matter of amnesty with Hazrat Hasan bin Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, Hazrat Ibn Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, Hazrat Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, and some individuals from the Quraysh. These people spoke to Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, but he did not grant him amnesty. So Haritha bin Badr went to Hazrat Sa'id bin Qais al-Hamdani, may Allah have mercy on him, and discussed this matter with him. Then Hazrat Sa'id, may Allah have mercy on him, went to Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, leaving him behind at his house. And he said: O Commander of the Faithful! What do you say about a person who fights against Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and strives to spread corruption in the land? He, may Allah be pleased with him, recited this verse in reply: The only recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and strive to spread corruption in the land is... until he, may Allah be pleased with him, recited the complete verse. Upon this, Hazrat Sa'id said: What is your opinion about a person who repents before being overpowered? Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I will say what the Prophet ﷺ said, that his repentance will be accepted. He, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Indeed, Haritha bin Badr repented before being overpowered. Then he, may Allah be pleased with him, sent a messenger to call him. So he was brought before Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. He, may Allah be pleased with him, granted him amnesty and wrote a document for him. Upon this, Haritha recited these verses: Convey my greetings to Hamdan when you reach there, may its enemy not remain safe. Surely, the people of Hamdan fear Allah and their orator judges by the Book of Allah. My head has turned white and our intellects have dulled, by the thunder and lightning around us. Our souls consider death sweet, while we consider life bitter. Hazrat Amir, may Allah have mercy on him, says that I mentioned this matter before Hazrat Ibn Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, and he said: We were more deserving of these verses than the people of Hamdan.

This statement of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is also narrated from Imam Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) with this chain of transmission. However, he did not mention poetry in it.

Imam Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that a man from the tribe of Murad performed prayer. The narrator says: When Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) finished the prayer with salam, that man stood up and said: This is the place for one who repents and seeks refuge. Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Woe to you, what is the matter with you? He said: I am so-and-so, son of so-and-so, from Murad. Indeed, I fought against Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), and I strove to spread corruption in the land. And now I have come in a state where I have repented before gaining power over myself. The narrator says: Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) stood in the place where that man had stood, then he (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, this is so-and-so, son of so-and-so, from Murad, and he fought against Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), and strove to spread corruption in the land, and indeed he repented before gaining power over himself. So if this person is truthful, then he will be dealt with as the truthful are dealt with. And if he is lying, then Allah, the Lord of Might, will seize him because of his sin. The narrator says: So that man went out among the people and left, and was saved. Then he did the same deed again, so he was killed.