English Translation

Abu Ghalib said: I was in Syria when al-Muhallab sent seventy heads of the Kharijites that were displayed at the door of the mosque. I was on the roof of my house when Abu Umamah passed by heading to the mosque. When he stopped at them, his eyes teared up and he said: "Glory be to Allah, what the devil does with the children of Adam" - three times. He said: "Dogs of Hellfire, the worst of those killed under the shadow of the sky" - three times. Then he said: "The best of those killed under the shadow of the sky are those whom they killed" - three times. Then he turned to me and said: "O Abu Ghalib, you are in a land where these are plentiful, may Allah protect you from them. Do you recite the surah that contains Al 'Imran?" I said: "Yes. I saw your eyes tearing." He said: "I wept out of mercy for them; they were from the people of Islam." Then he recited: {It is He who sent down to you the Book, in it are verses that are precise} until he reached {seeking discord and seeking its interpretation}. Indeed these people had deviation in their hearts, so they were led astray. Then he recited: {And do not be like those who became divided} until he reached: {Did you disbelieve after your belief?} I said: "O Abu Umamah, are these [the ones referred to]?" He said: "Yes." I said: "O Abu Umamah, is this from your own opinion or something you heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)?" He said: "I would indeed be bold - three times. Rather, it is something I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) not once, not twice - until he reached six times."