Did Sufyan al-Thawri narrate from Abdul Rahman bin Qasim, from Omar bin Abdul Ghaffar, that when Abu Hurairah came to Kufa with Mu'awiyah, he was asked: "O Abu Hurairah, I adjure you by Allah, did you hear the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him and his family, say concerning Ali bin Abi Talib: 'O Allah, befriend whoever befriends him, and be an enemy to whoever is an enemy to him'?" And he replied, "Yes." Then the questioner said: "Then I bear witness by Allah that you have befriended his enemy and shown enmity to his friend." Then he stood up and left him?

The hadith, "Of whomsoever I am the mawla, Ali is his mawla. O Allah, befriend those who befriend him and be an enemy to those who are hostile to him," is a good and authentic hadith narrated by Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Al-Hakim, and Imam Ahmad, and authenticated by Al-Albani. As for the mentioned chain of narration, it is unsound (halik) and does not establish a report. Ibn Abi Al-Hadid mentioned it in "Sharh Nahj Al-Balagha," which is an unreliable book. The statement also contained slander against Abu Hurairah and Mu'awiyah, may Allah be pleased with them both, and this is forbidden due to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Do not curse my Companions." It is obligatory to refrain from delving into matters concerning the Companions because they accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him), and they are forgiven and rewarded for their efforts. Allah has also praised them in the Qur'an. It is advised to look into the virtues of Abu Hurairah and Mu'awiyah in Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.