Is this narration authentic?
Juray ibn Kulayb said: I saw that `Ali was ordering something and `Uthman was prohibiting from it. So I said to `Ali: ‘There is something wrong between you both.’ He replied: ‘There is only good between us, but the better one of us is the one who is more obedient to this religion.’
Answer
This is recorded with an acceptable chain by Imam Musaddad ibn Musarhad in his Musnad, and has other supporting chains too.
(Al-Matalibul ‘Aliyah, Hadith: 3946, Chapter of the virtues of ‘Ali -radiyallahu’anhu- Also see Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awanah, Hadith: 3810)
Explanation
The narrator noticed a difference of opinion between these two senior Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) and misunderstood this as an indifference between them.
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu’anhu) clarified this by explaining that it is our zeal to follow the truth that has lead us to our views. That is all.
Moral
Many of us today too misunderstand a legitimate difference of opinion as indifference between the proponents. This is totally incorrect. Tolerance is an ingredient much needed in our era, on many fronts.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar