(254) Regarding what was related from Abd Allah ibn Saba—peace be upon him—and his brothers, and their proclamation of the divinity of our Master—exalted be His bounties—in Ta'if in the land of Yemen during the era of the Messenger of God—exalted be his glory. They were brought from Yemen to the Messenger—exalted be his glory—persisting in their proclamation and clear declaration of His divinity. The Messenger said: "O Ali, take them out to al-Safa, kindle a fire for them, and offer them repentance. If they repent, return them to me; but if they persist, then burn them with the fire." Our Master—exalted be his glory—took them to the outskirts of al-Safa and offered them repentance, but they did not recant their words, so he burned them with the fire. Three days later, they appeared in Kufa and remained there alive until Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory—took charge of Kufa. There occurred the event regarding their sister which we explained previously. When he informed them of what was in the wombs, they declared His divinity, called to His godhood, and affirmed His Lordship. This reached our Master—exalted be his glory—and the Muslims grew agitated and gathered before him. Our Master ordered them to be brought forth and dug a trench for them—which is a pit (jubb) in the language—ordering a fire to be kindled in it, saying: "When I saw the matter to be a heinous thing, I kindled a fire and called Qanbar."

Our Master—exalted be His majesty—would take a man among them by his hand, offering him repentance, warning him with the fire, and calling him to recant his position. But the man would persist in his Oneness and affirmation of divinity. He would then lower him into the fire. When they were inside, they began to greet one another with the embers while the people watched them. Our Master said: "Fill the pit over them." They filled it until they all became charcoal. Afterward, our Master—exalted be his glory—ordered them to be brought out and he prayed over them, reciting the words of the Mighty and Sublime: In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. {By the sky containing great stars, and by the promised Day, and by a witness and one witnessed.