406 - Muhammad ibn al-Husayn informed me that al-Fadl narrated to them: He heard Abu 'Abd Allah mention Nuh ibn Habib, and he said: "If what was said about Nuh ibn Habib is true, that he prioritizes 'Ali over 'Uthman, then this is also a tribulation," or words to that effect. Then he said: "How can he prioritize 'Ali over 'Uthman? And was there a pledge of allegiance more reliable than his, or more valid? And he was a Caliph who was killed unjustly, yet he did not even strike them with a stick [i.e., offer any resistance]." He kept saying these words while he was angry, severely angry.
٤٠٦ - أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ، أَنَّ الْفَضْلَ حَدَّثَهُمْ: سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَذَكَرَ نُوحَ بْنَ حَبِيبٍ، فَقَالَ: " إِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي قِيلَ فِي نُوحِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ أَنَّهُ يُقَدِّمُ عَلِيًّا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ، فَهَذَا أَيْضًا بَلَاءٌ، أَوْ نَحْوَ هَذَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: كَيْفَ يُقَدِّمُ عَلِيًّا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ؟ وَهَلْ كَانَتْ بَيْعَةٌ أَوْثَقَ مِنْ بَيْعَتِهِ، وَلَا أَصَحَّ مِنْهَا؟ وَخَلِيفَةٌ قُتِلَ ظُلْمًا لَمْ يَبْهَشْ إِلَيْهِمْ بِقَصَبَةٍ، فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ هَذَا الْكَلَامَ وَهُوَ مُغْضَبٌ شَدِيدُ الْغَضَبِ "
