Chapter on Apostasy
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 54
وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ بِالْكُوفَةِ مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَشَهِدَ أَنَّهُ رَآهُمَا يُصَلِّيَانِ لِصَنَمٍ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ وَيْحَكَ لَعَلَّهُ بَعْضُ مَنْ يَشْتَبِهُ عَلَيْكَ أَمْرُهُ فَأَرْسَلَ رَجُلاً فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا وَ هُمَا يُصَلِّيَانِ لِصَنَمٍ فَأَتَى بِهِمَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا اِرْجِعَا فَأَبَيَا فَخَدَّ لَهُمَا فِي اَلْأَرْضِ أُخْدُوداً وَ أَجَّجَ فِيهِ نَاراً فَطَرَحَهُمَا فِيهِ رَوَى ذَلِكَ مُوسَى بْنُ بَكْرٍ عَنِ اَلْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ:.
And it is reported that two men in Kufa, who were Muslims, were brought before Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام. A man testified that he had seen them praying to an idol. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "Woe unto you! Perhaps it is someone who merely appeared similar to them, and the matter has confused you." Then, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام sent a man to observe them. The man returned and confirmed that they were indeed praying to an idol. So, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام summoned them and said: "Repent and return (to Islam)." But they refused. Then, Imam عليه السلام dug a trench in the ground, lit a fire in it, and threw them into the fire. This was narrated by Musa ibn Bakr from al-Fudayl, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh