Were those who fought the Holy Prophet,Sallallahu ʿAlayhi waalihi wa-sallam worse or those who fought against Ali AS

353. Yahya, from Abdulah Bin Muskaan, from Zureys who said: The people disputed in the presence of Abu Ja’far (asws). So some of them said, ‘The wars fought by Ali (asws) were (against a people) more evil than the wars fought by the Rasool Allah (saww), and some of them said, ‘The wars fought by the Rasool Allah (saww) were (against a people) more evil than the wars fought by Ali (asws)’. He (the narrator) said, ‘So Abu Ja’far listened to them and said: ‘What are you all saying?’ So they said, ‘May Allah (azwj) keep you (asws) well, we are disputing with regards to the wars of the Rasool Allah (saww) and the wars of Ali (asws). Some of us are saying that the wars of Ali (asws) were (against a people) more evil than the wars fought by the Rasool Allah (saww), whilst some of us are saying that the wars fought by the Messenger (saww) were (against a people) more evil than the wars fought by Ali (asws)’. So Abu Ja’far (asws) said: ‘No! But, the wars of Ali (asws) were (against a people) more evil than the wars of the Rasool Allah (saww)’. So I said to him (asws), ‘May I be sacrificed for you (asws), the wars of Ali (asws) were (against a people) more evil than the wars of the Rasool Allah (saww)?’ He (asws) said: ‘Yes, and I (asws) shall inform you about that. The Messenger (saww) fought wars (against a people) who did not accept Al-Islam, and that the wars of Ali (asws) were (against a people) who accepted Al-Islam, then fought against him (asws)’.

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