617 - Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Matar informed us, saying: Abu Talib narrated to us that he heard Abu 'Abd Allah being asked: "Do you use the hadith of Safinah as evidence?" He replied: "And what invalidates it?" It was said to him: "The caliphate of 'Ali was neither through consultation (shura) nor by decree (amr)." He said: "Do not speak about this. 'Ali led the people in Hajj, established the prescribed punishments (hudud), and distributed the fay' (spoils of war). He would not be a caliph while the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, addressed him as 'O Commander of the Believers'."
٦١٧ - وَأَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَطَرٍ، قَالَ: ثَنَا أَبُو طَالِبٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قِيلَ لَهُ: تَحْتَجُّ بِحَدِيثِ سَفِينَةَ؟ قَالَ: «وَمَا يَدْفَعُهُ؟» قِيلَ لَهُ: خِلَافَةُ عَلِيٍّ غَيْرُ مَشُورَةٍ وَلَا أَمْرٍ، قَالَ: «لَا تَكَلَّمْ فِي هَذَا، عَلِيٌّ يَحُجُّ بِالنَّاسِ، وَيُقِيمُ الْحُدُودَ، وَيَقْسِمُ الْفَيْءَ، لَا يَكُونُ خَلِيفَةً وَأَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُنَادُونَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ»
