Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 2686

It is narrated from Shaddad bin Abdullah Abu Ammar: I saw Sayyiduna Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) standing by the heads of the Haruriyyah (Khawarij) at the gate of Damascus, and he was saying: "These are the dogs of Hell." He said this three times, and he said: "The best of the slain are those whom these people killed." The narrator said: Tears flowed from the eyes of Sayyiduna Abu Umamah. A man asked him: O Abu Umamah, this saying of yours that these are the dogs of Hell, is it something you heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or is it your own opinion? He said: How bold I would be (in attributing it to him) had I not heard it from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) once, twice or three times (until he counted seven times). A man said to him: I saw that tears came from your eyes. He said: (I wept because) these people were believers at first, then they disbelieved after their belief. Then he recited this verse: "And do not be like those who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them." [Surah Al Imran: 105]. He recited this verse twice concerning them (the Khawarij).