Al-Kāfi 8, record 202 of the digital edition

Translation

202. From him, from Ali Bin Al-Husayn, from Ali Bin Abu hamza, from Abu Baseer, who has narrated the following: Abu Abdullah (asws) regarding the Statement of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic: “[58:7] Nowhere is there a secret counsel between three persons but He is the fourth of them, nor (between) five but He is the sixth of them, nor less than that nor more but He is with them wherever they are; then He will inform them of what they did on the day of resurrection: surely Allah is Cognizant of all things”. He (asws) said; ‘This was Revealed regarding so and so and so and so (Abu Bakr and Umar), and Abu Ubeyda Ibn Al-Jarrah, and Abdul Rahman Ibn Awf, and Saalim Mawla Abu Huzeyfa, and Al-Mugheira Bin Sho’ba, when they wrote the agreement in between them and took a pledge and agreed that if Muhammad (saww) were to pass away, they would not let the Caliphate to be in the Clan of Hashim, nor the Prophet-hood ever. So Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Revealed this Verse with regards to them. I said, ‘The Statement of the Mighty and Majestic: “[43:79] Or have they settled an affair? Then surely, We are the settlers. [43:80] Or do they think that We do not hear what they conceal and their secret discourses? Indeed (We do), and Our messengers are by them, to record”. He (asws) said: ‘And these two Verse were Revealed regarding them on that day’. Abu Abdullah (asws) said: ‘Hopefully you will see that is was a day resembling the day of the writing of the agreement except for the day Al-Husayn (asws) was martyred, and thus it had preceded in the Knowledge of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic which He (azwj) Made known to the Rasool Allah (saww) that when the agreement is written down, Al-Husayn (asws) would be martyred, and the kingdom would exit from the Clan of Hashim. So all of that did take place. I said, ‘The Verse: “[49:9] And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah’s command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably”. He (asws) said: ‘The two groups, but rather its explanation came on the day of Al-Basra (The battle of the Camel), and they are the ones belonging to this Verse, and they are the ones who rebelled against Amir-ul-Momineen (asws). So it was obligatory upon him (asws) to fight them, and he (asws) fought them until they submitted to the Command of Allah (azwj). And had they not been submitted, it became obligatory upon him (asws) with regards to what Allah (azwj) Revealed, that he (asws) should not raise his sword (stop fighting) until they complied and returned from their opinions, because they had pledged their allegiances willingly, without compulsion. And this is the rebel group as Allah (azwj) the High has Said. So it was obligatory upon Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) that he (asws) should deal with justice among them when he (asws) was victorious over them, just as the Rasool Allah (saww) had been just among the people of Mecca, he (saww) was benevolent upon them and forgave them. And that is what Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) did with the people of Al-Basra when he (asws) was victorious over them similar to what the Rasool Allah (saww) did with the people of Mecca. Like a sandal follows a sandal (same footsteps). I said, ‘(What about) the Statement of the Mighty and Majestic: “[53:53] And He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah)”. He (asws) said: ‘These are the people of Al-Basra. It is the overthrown city’. I said, ‘(What about) “[9:70] and the overthrown cities; their messengers came to them with clear arguments”. He (asws) said: ‘They were the people of Lut (as), their town was turned upside down upon them’.

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.