Hadith record

398. Ibn Mahboub, from Amro Bin Abu Al-Maqdaam, from his father who said: I said to Abu Ja’far (asws) that: ‘The generality (of the Muslims) are alleging that the pledging of the allegiances to Abu Bakr where the people gathered was with the Pleasure of Allah (azwj) and Allah (azwj) did not like the strife (Fitna) in the community of Muhammad (saww) after him (saww). So Abu Ja’far (asws) said: ‘Have you not recited the Book of Allah (azwj)? Has not Allah (azwj) said: “[3:144] And Muhammad is no more than a messenger; the messengers have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful” I said to him (asws), ‘They are explaining it upon another perspective’. So he (asws) said: ‘Has not Allah (azwj) Informed about those who were before them from the communities who had differed from after the Proofs had come to them, where He (azwj) Said: “[2:253] and We gave clear miracles to Isa son of Marium, and strengthened him with the holy spirit. And if Allah had pleased, those after them would not have fought one with another after clear arguments had come to them, but they disagreed; so there were some of them who believed and others who denied; and if Allah had pleased they would not have fought one with another, but Allah brings about what He intends”, and in this is the evidence against the companions of Muhammad (saww) who had differed among (themselves) after him (saww). “So there were some of them who believed and others who denied”.

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.