It is narrated from Abdullah bin Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah that people said to my father (Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah): "O Mahdi! Peace be upon you." He said: "Subhanallah! Did I not forbid you from this? The Mahdi is only the one whom Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, guides." A clear statement that the Commander of the Faithful Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) distanced a group from among his special followers and cut off ties with them, because they used to say things about Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them) that they did not deserve, and they used to revile the other Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), until those people separated from him and went off to Harura'; among them were Abdullah bin al-Kawwa' al-Yashkuri and Shabath bin Rib'i al-Tamimi.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Wa'il that Abdullah bin al-Kawwa', Shabath bin Rib'i and some other people with them separated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) after his return from Siffin to Kufah, because Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) had strongly condemned them for reviling Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and the other Companions after them. So those people opposed him and rose up against him. Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) went out to them, argued with them with proofs, and returned without fighting. Imam al-Hakim says that in the narration of Abu Ishaq al-Fazari from Shu'bah there are some additional words, among which this oath of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is also mentioned: "I will not live with you in this city until I meet Allah, the Mighty and Majestic."