May God reward you with a worthy rewarding on behalf of us

Imam `Ali answered, “May God reward you with a worthy rewarding on behalf of us, the people of the Prophet’s House.” At this time, addressing `Ali, Dihyah Kalbi said: O `Ali! I like you and I have brought you a praiseworthy salutation from God which I present to you. You are the commander of the believers, the leader of graceful people and benefactors. You are the master of the sons of Adam except the prophets! On the Day of Judgment, the banner of al-Hamd is in your hand. You and your followers along with Muhammad and his followers will enter paradise with no delay. Salvation is for one who accepts your leadership and the loser is one who disobeys you. The friends of Muhammad are your friends and his enemies are your enemies who will never enjoy Muhammad’s intercession. Then, he said: O you are chosen by God! Come close to me and put your cousin’s head on your lap. After moment’s the Messenger of Allah took his head off `Ali’s lap and said: Whose voice was that? `Ali told him the whole story. The Messenger of Allah said: The one speaking to you was not Dihyah Kalbi! He was Gabriel who called you with the name God has chosen for you! It is Gabriel who has placed your love in the hearts of the believers and your awe in the hearts of the unbelievers.[351]

Ibn Mardawayh on the authority of Buraydah reports: The Messenger of Allah ordered us to address `Ali as the commander of the believers and say: Peace be to you, O Amir al-Mu’minin.[352]

Ibn Mardawayh on the authority of `Abdullah reports: Once `Ali went to the Messenger of Allah while `A’ishah was with him. He took a seat between the Holy Prophet and `A’ishah who protested by saying: Did you not find any other place than my seat? Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah who had become angry tapped her on the back and said: `A’ishah! Calm down and stop bothering me with your snide remark against my brother, `Ali, for he is Amir al-Mu’minin, the master of Muslims, the leader of the graceful people. On the Day of Judgment he will sit on the Discriminating Bridge, will guide his followers to paradise and his enemies to hell.[353]

Ibn Mardawayh on the authority of Rafi`, the manumitted slave of  `A’ishah reports: When I was a young boy, I used to do the chores outside the house for `A’ishah and when the Messenger of Allah was at home, in addition to outside chores, I would do chores inside the

لَكَ مِدْحَةً أَزُفُّها إلَيْكَ، أَنْتَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَقَائِدُ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ. أَنْتَ سَيِّدُ وِلْدِ آدَمَ مَا خَلا النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ. لِوَاءُ الْحَمْدِ بِيَدِكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، تُزَفُّ أَنْتَ وَشِيعَتُكَ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَحِزْبِهِ إلَى الْجِنَانِ زَفَّاً. قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَوَلاَّكَ وَخَسِرَ مَنْ تَخَلاَّكَ، مُحِبُّو مُحَمَّدٍ مُحِبُّوكَ وَمُبْغِضُو مُحَمَّدٍ مُبْغِضُوكَ، لَنْ تَنَالَهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. أُدْنُ مِنِّي يَا صَفْوَةَ اللهِ. فَأَخَذَ رَأْسَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَوَضَعَهُ فِي حِجْرِهِ. فَقالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَا هَذِهِ الْهَمْهَمَةُ؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ الحَدِيثَ. قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: لَمْ يَكُنْ بِدِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيِّ، كَانَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، سَمَّاكَ بِاسْمٍ سَمَّاكَ اللهُ بِهِ، وَالَّذِي أَلْقَى مَحَبَّتَكَ فِي صُدُورِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَهْبَتَكَ فِي صُدُورِ الكَافِرِينَ.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَرْدَوَيْهَ يَرْفَعُهُ، بُرَيْدَةُ قَالَ: أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنْ نُسَلِّمَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ بِيَا أَمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ.

وَمِنْ مَناقِبِ ابْنِ مَرْدَوَيْهَ: عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: دَخَلَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَعِنْدَهُ عَائِشَةُ، فَجَلَسَ بَيْنَ النَّبِيِّ وَبَيْنَ عَائِشَةَ. فَقَالَتْ: مَا كَانَ لَكَ مَجْلِسٌ غَيْرَ فَخِذِي؟! فَضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا وَقالَ: مَهْ! لاَ تُؤْذِينِي فِي أَخِي، فَإنَّهُ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَيِّدُ المُسْلِمينَ وَقَائِدُ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقْعُدُ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ فَيُدْخِلُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَيُدْخِلُ أَعْدَائَهُ النَّارَ.

وَمِنَ المَناقِبِ: عَنْ رَافِعٍ مَوْلَى عَائِشَةَ قَالَ: كُنْتُ غُلاَماً أَخْدِمُهَا فَكُنْتُ إذَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عِنْدَها أَكُونُ قَرِيباً إلَيْها لأُعَاطِيَهَا. قَالَ: فَبَيْنَمَـا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ

house too. One day when the Messenger of Allah was at home, someone knocked at the door. I went quickly to the door and found there was a female slave with a big tray with a cover on it. She asked permission to enter. I went and informed `A’ishah. She said: Guide her into the house. Entering the house, the female slave put the tray on the ground before `A’ishah, saying: This is a gift offered to you. She took it to the Messenger of Allah and removed the cover from it. The female slave left and the Messenger of Allah started eating from the tray, saying: I wish Amir al-Mu’minin, the master of Muslims and the leader of the pious, were here to share the food with us. At this time, someone knocked at the door. When I opened the door, I found `Ali behind it. Rushing towards the Messenger of Allah, I said: `Ali is behind the door, asking permission to enter. The Holy Prophet’s eyes fell on `Ali’s face and said: You are most welcome! Hail to you. I longed for your presence twice. If you were late, I would pray to God to bring you here. Now, take a seat and eat with us.[354]

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Anas as saying: Paradise longs for four men of my Ummah! I intended to ask him who they were but I feared they might not be those in my mind. Hence, I went to Abu-Bakr, told him of the story, and said: Ask the Messenger of Allah who they are. Abu-Bakr said: I fear that I might not be among the four and to be exposed to the blame of my tribe (Bani Taym). So I went to `Umar and asked him to do the same. `Umar too brought up the possible blame of his tribe (Banu-`Adi). Thereafter, I went to `Uthman and told him the story. Like the other two, he said: I fear I may not be among the four and be blamed by Umayyad. Being desperate, I went to `Ali who was irrigating his tree and told him the story.

`Ali said: By God, I will ask the Messenger of Allah and I am not fearful, for if I am one of the four, I will praise Lord for giving me such a blessing and if I am not one of them, I will pray to Lord to make me one of the four and place their love in my heart.

So he headed for the Holy Prophet’s house while I was accompanying him. We saw the Messenger of Allah at a time Dihyah Kalbi had his head on his lap. Seeing `Ali, Dihyah rose up, hailed him and said: O Amir al-Mu’minin! Come and put the head of your cousin on your

عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عِنْدَها ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ إذْ جَاءَ جَاءٍ فَدَقَّ البَابَ. قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ إلَيْهِ فَإذَا جَارِيَةٌ مَعَهَا إِنَاءٌ مُغَطّىً. قَالَ: فَرَجَعْتُ إلَى عَائِشَةَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهَا. فَقَالَتْ: أَدْخِلْهَا. فَدَخَلْتُ فَوَضَعْتُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَائِشَةَ فَوَضَعَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ وَخَرَجَتِ الْجَارِيَةُ. فقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَيْتَ أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَيِّدَ المُسْلِمينَ وَإمامَ الْمُتَّقِينَ عِنْدِي يَأْكُلُ مَعِي. فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: وَمَنْ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَيِّدُ المُسْلِمينَ؟ فَسَكَتَ، ثُمَّ أَعادَ الْكَلامَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، فَسَكَتَ. فَجَاءَ جَاءٍ فَدَقَّ البَابَ فَخَرَجْتُ إلَيْهِ فَإذَا هُوَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، قَالَ: فَرَجَعْتُ فَقُلْتُ: هَذَا عَلِيٌّ. فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: أَدْخِلْهُ. فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ قَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَرْحَباً وَأَهْلاً، لَقَدْ تَمَنَّيْتُكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى لَوْ أَبْطَأْتَ عَلَيَّ لَسَأَلْتُ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ أنْ يَأْتِيَ بِكَ. إِجْلِسْ وَكُلْ مَعِي. فَجَلَسَ وَأَكَلَ مَعَهُ. ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: قَاتَلَ اللهُ مَنْ قَاتَلَكَ وَعَادَى مَنْ عَادَاكَ. فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: وَمَنْ يُقَاتِلُهُ وَمَنْ يُعَادِيهِ؟ قَالَ: أَنْتِ وَمَنْ مَعَكِ، مَرَّتَيْنِ.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّ الْجَنَّةَ مُشْتَاقَةٌ إلَى أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي. فَهِبْتُ أنْ أَسْأَلَهُ مَنْ هُمْ. فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ إنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ: إنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَشْتَاقُ إلَى أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي، فَسْأَلْهُ مَنْ هُمْ. فَقالَ: أَخَافُ ألاَّ أَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ فَتُعَيِّرُنِي بِهِ بَنُو تَيْمٍ. فَأَتَيْتُ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ. فَقالَ: أَخَافُ ألاَّ أَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ فَتُعَيِّرُنِي بِهِ بَنُو عَدِيٍّ. فَأَتَيْتُ عُثْمَانَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ. فَقالَ: أَخَافُ ألاَّ أَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ فَتُعَيِّرُنِي بِهِ بَنُو أُمَيَّةَ. فَأَتَيْتُ عَلِيَّاً وَهُوَ فِي نَاضِحٍ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ إنَّ الْجَنَّةَ مُشْتَاقَةٌ إلَى أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي، فَسَلْهُ مَنْ هُمْ. فَقَالَ: وَاللهِ لأَسْأَلَنَّهُ، فَإنْ كُنْتُ مِنْهُمْ لأَحْمِدَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ وَإنْ لَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْهُمْ لأَسْأَلَنَّ اللهَ أنْ يَجْعَلَنِي مِنْهُمْ وَأَوَدُّهُمْ. فَجَاءَ وَجِئْتُ مَعَهُ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَرَأْسُهُ فِي حِجْرِ دِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيِّ.

lap, for you are more deserving of this act! `Ali sat on the ground and put the head of the Messenger of Allah on his lap. At this time, the Holy Prophet woke up, saying: O Abul Hasan! You are not here without reason. What do you need? `Ali said: O Messenger of Allah, may my parents be ransom for you. When I came here, your head was on Kalbi’s lap. He rose up, greeted me and said: Put the head of your cousin on your lap, for you are more deserving than me! The Messenger of Allah asked: Did you recognize him? I said: Yes, he was Dihyah Kalbi. The Messenger of Allah said: He was not Dihyah rather, he was Gabriel the trustworthy in the guise of Dihyah. Then `Ali said: May my parents be your ransom. Right now, Anas informed me that you have said: Paradise longs for four persons! Who are those four? Pointing his finger at `Ali, the Messenger of Allah said: By God, you are the first of them. He repeated this three times. `Ali said: O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be your ransom; who are the other three? The Holy Prophet said: The other three are: Miqdad, Salman, and Abu-Dharr.[355]

The Messenger of Allah has said on the authority of `Abbas: On the Day of Judgment, no one will enter the plain of the Resurrection Yard riding except four persons. Rising up from his seat, `Abbas said: O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be your ransom; who are those four persons? The Holy Prophet said: I will ride my heavenly horse (Buraq), my brother Salih will ride his she-camel which was hamstrung, my uncle Hamzah will ride my `Adba’ she-camel and my brother, my cousin and my son-in-law, `Ali, will ride one of the she-camels of paradise with fine silk on it, with emerald legs, red gold body, white camphor head, ambergris tail, glowing with light, musky skeleton, neck of pearls, cupola of divine light whose inward is divine forgiveness and its outward is divine mercy. The banner of al-Hamd is in his hand. When he passes by a group of angels, they will say: Is he an arch-angel, a prophet or bearer of divine throne? At that time a herald from near or inside the divine throne will say: He is neither arch-angel, nor a prophet or bearer of divine throne. He is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib, Amir al-Mu’minin, the leader of the pious and the head of the graceful ones. Delivered is one who accepts him and loser is one who denies or disobeys him. If a worshipper prays for thousands of years between Rukn and Maqam of Ka`bah in a way his body languishes and meets God while he is the enemy of the family of Muhammad, God will throw him to hell on face.[356]

فَلَمَّا رَآهُ دِحْيَةُ قَامَ إلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ وَقالَ: خُذْ بِرَأْسِ ابْنِ عَمِّكَ يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ، فَأَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ. فَاسْتَيْقَظَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَرَأْسُهُ فِي حِجْرِ عَلِيٍّ فَقالَ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ، مَا جِئْتَنَا إلاَّ فِي حَاجَةٍ. قَالَ: بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، دَخَلْتُ وَرَأْسُكَ فِي حِجْرِ دِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيِّ فَقَامَ إلَيَّ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيَّ وَقالَ: خُذْ بِرَأْسِ ابْنِ عَمِّكَ إلَيْكَ فَأَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ مِنِّي يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: فَهَلْ عَرَفْتَهُ؟ فَقالَ: هُوَ دِحْيَةُ الْكَلْبِيُّ. فَقالَ لَهُ: ذَاكَ جِبْرِيلُ. فَقالَ لَهُ: بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، أَعْلَمَنِي أَنَسٌ أنَّكَ قُلتُ: الْجَنَّةُ مُشْتَاقَةٌ إلَى أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي، فَمَنْ هُمْ؟ فَأَوْمَأَ إلَيْهِ بِيَدِهِ فَقالَ: أَنْتَ وَاللهِ أَوَّلُهُمْ. أَنْتَ وَاللهِ أَوَّلُهُمْ. أَنْتَ وَاللهِ أَوَّلُهُمْ. فَقالَ: بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي، فَمَنِ الثَّلاَثَةُ؟ فَقالَ لَهُ: الْمِقْدَادُ وَسَلْمَانُ وَأَبُو ذَرٍّ.

وَمِنْ تَارِيخِ الْخَطِيبِ بِإسْنَادِهِ إلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَيْسَ فِي الْقِيَامَةِ رَاكِبٌ غَيْرُنَا وَنَحْنُ أَرْبَعَةٌ. فَقَامَ عَمُّهُ الْعَبَّاسُ فَقالَ: فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي فَأَنْتَ وَمَنْ؟ قَالَ: فَأَمَّا أنَا فَعَلَى دَابَّةِ اللهِ الْبُرَاقِ، وَأمَّا أَخِي صَالِحٌ فَعَلَى نَاقَةِ اللهِ الَّتي عُقِرَتْ. وَعَمِّي حَمْزَةُ أَسَدُ اللهِ وَأَسَدُ رَسُولِهِ عَلَى نَاقَتِيَ الْعَضْبَاءِ. وَأَخِي وَابْنُ عَمِّي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَى نَاقَةٍ مِنْ نُوقِ الْجَنَّةِ مُدَبَّجَةِ الظَّهْرِ، رَحْلُهَا مِنْ زُمُرُّدٍ أَخْضَرَ مُضَبَّبٌ بِالذَّهَبِ الأَحْمَرِ، رَأْسُهَا مِنَ الْكَافُورِ الأَبْيَضِ وَذَنَبُهَا مِنَ الْعَنْبَرِ الأَشْهَبِ، وَقَوَائِمُهَا مِنَ الْمِسْكِ الأَذْفَرِ، وَعُنُقُهَا مِنْ لُؤْلُؤٍ، عَلَيْهَا قُبَّةٌ مِنْ نُورٍ، بَاطِنُهَا عَفْوُ اللهِ وَظَاهِرُهَا رَحْمَةُ اللهِ، بِيَدِهِ لِوَاءُ الْحَمْدِ. فَلا يَمُرُّ بِمَلأٍ مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ إلاَّ قَالُوا: هَذَا مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ أَوْ نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ أَوْ حَامِلُ عَرْشِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ مِنْ لَدُنِ الْعَرْشِ ـ أَوْ قَالَ مِنْ بِطْنَانِ الْعَرْشِ ـ: لَيْسَ هَذَا مَلَكاً مُقَرَّباً وَلاَ نَبِيَّاً مُرْسَلاً وَلاَ حَامِلَ عَرْشِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ؛ هَذَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ وَإمَامُ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَقَائِدُ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ إلَى جَنَابِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. أَفْلَحَ مَنْ صَدَّقَهُ وَخَابَ مَنْ كَذَّبَهُ. وَلَوْ أنَّ عَابِداً عَبَدَ اللهَ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ أَلْفَ عَامٍ وَأَلْفَ عَامٍ حَتَّى يَكُونَ كَالشَّنِّ الْبَالِي ثُمَّ لَقِيَ اللهَ مُبْغِضاً لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ أَكَبَّهُ اللهُ عَلَى مِنْخَرَيْهِ فِي جَهَنَّمَ.

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The Messenger of Allah has been reported as saying: when on my Night Journey, I reached the farthest lote-tree (Sidrat al-Muntaha), I stopped in the presence of Allah who said: O Muhammad! I said: Yes. He said: You have tried my servants. Which of them obeys you? I said: O Lord! I found `Ali the most obedient. He said: You said the truth. Have you appointed a successor among your Ummah to guide my servants with my book and to teach them what they do not know? I said: O Lord! You appoint my successor, for you are the Best Appointer! God said: I have appointed `Ali. Therefore, appoint him as your vicegerent and executor after yourself, for I have given him my knowledge and forbearance. He is truly the commander of the believers. This is a title I have allocated to him only, for no one has had it before or will have it in future. O Muhammad! `Ali is the standard bearer of guidance, leader of my obedient servants and the light of my The saints. He is the word I made incumbent on the pious. Whoever loves him, has loved me and whoever is hostile to him, has been hostile to me! O Muhammad! Convey this good news to him. The Messenger of Allah said: I conveyed to him this good news. He appreciated it and said: I am a servant of God and under His control. If He blames me, it is because of the sin I have committed and if He forgives me it is because God is my Lord and my Aide. God said: Verily I will fulfill the promise I have given him. I said: O Lord! Make belief in You steadfast in him. God said: I did, but O Muhammad! I will try him with tribulations and calamities with which I have not tried anyone of the saints. I said: He is my brother and my long-cherished friend. God said: This is the fate I know about him. He will be afflicted with all these calamities and it is due to his high positions. My party, my devotees and the followers of prophets would not be recognized if there were no `Ali.[357]

These traditions have been reported from more than three hundred ways of narration.

وَمِنْ مَناقِبِ الخَوارِزْمِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِي إلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى وَقَفْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ، فَقالَ لِي: يَا مُحَمَّدُ. فَقُلْتُ: لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ. قَالَ: قَدْ بَلَوْتَ خَلْقِي فَأَيَّهُمْ رَأَيْتَ أَطْوَعَ لَكَ؟ قَالَ: قُلتُ: رَبِّي عَلِيَّاً. قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، فَهَلِ اتَّخَذْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ خَلِيفَةً يُؤَدِّي عَنْكَ وَيُعَلِّمُ عِبَادِي مِنْ كِتَابِي مَا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ؟ قَالَ: قُلتُ: يَا رَبِّ اخْتَرْ لِي، فَإنَّ خِيرَتَكَ خِيرَتِي. قَالَ: قَدِ اخْتَرْتُ لَكَ عَلِيَّاً، فَاتَّخِذْهُ لِنَفْسِكَ خَلِيفَةً وَوَصِيَّاً، وَنَحَلْتُهُ عِلْمِي وَحِلْمِي، وَهُوَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ حَقَّاً، لَمْ يَنَلْهَا أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ وَلَيْسَتْ لأَِحَدٍ بَعْدَهُ. يَا مُحَمَّدُ، عَلِيٌّ رَايَةُ الْهُدَى وَإمَامُ مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي وَنُورُ أَوْلِيَائِي، وَهُوَ الْكَلِمَةُ الَّتِي أَلْزَمْتُهَا الْمُتَّقِينَ. مَنْ أَحَبَّهُ فَقَدْ أَحَبَّنِي وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُ فَقَدْ أَبْغَضَنِي، فَبَشِّرْهُ بِذَلِكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: قُلتُ: رَبِّ قَدْ بَشَّرْتُهُ. فَقالَ: أنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ وَفِي قَبْضَتِهِ، إنْ يُعَاقِبْنِي فَبِذُنُوبِي لَمْ يَظْلِمْنِي شَيْئاً، وَإنْ أَتْمَمَ لِي وَعْدِي فَاللهُ مَوْلاَيَ. قَالَ: قُلتُ: اللَّهُمَّ إجْلُ قَلْبَهُ وَاجْعَلْ رَبِيعَهُ الإيمَانَ. قَالَ: قَدْ فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، غَيْرَ أَنِّي مُخْتَصُّهُ بِشَيْءْ مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ لَمْ أَخْتَصَّ بِهِ أَحَداً مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِي. قَالَ: قُلتُ: رَبِّ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي. قَالَ: قَدْ سَبَقَ فِي عِلْمِي أَنَّهُ مُبْتَلىً، لَوْلا عَلِيٌّ لَمْ يُعْرَفْ حِزْبِي وَلا أَوْلِيَائِي وَلا أَوْلِيَاءُ رَسُلِي.

وَهَذِهِ الأحَادِيثُ وَرَدَتْ مِنْ أَزْيَدَ مِنْ ثَلاثِمِائَةِ طَرِيقٍ.