Al-‘Utbi reported: Al-Harith ibn Hut came to Ali and he said to him, “Do you see that I think Talhah, Al-Zubayr, and Aisha have united upon falsehood?” Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “O rebel, you are confused! Verily, truth and falsehood are not known by the statures of men. Know the truth and you will recognize its people. Know falsehood and you will recognize the one who brings it.”
Source: Ansāb al-Ashrāf 2/274
عَن العتبي قال قام الحارث بن حوط الليثي إِلَى علي فَقَالَ لَهُ أتراني أظن طلحة وَالزُّبَيْر وعائشة اجتمعوا عَلَى باطل فقال له علي رضي الله عنه يَا حار إنك ملبوس عليك إِنَّ الْحَقَّ والباطل لا يُعْرَفان بأقدار الرِّجَالِ اعْرِفِ الْحَقَّ تَعْرِفْ أَهْلَهُ واعْرِفِ الباطل تَعْرِفْ من أتاه
2/274 أنساب الأشراف للبلاذري
