Kind Gabriel told me that they (the Book of Allah and the...

Kind Gabriel told me that they (the Book of Allah and the progeny) will not separate until they will come to me at the pond (in the Paradise), and I prayed to my Lord to do that for them. Do not antecede them that you may perish, and do not lag behind them that you may perish…’ Then the Prophet (S) took Imam Ali’s hand and announced his guardianship over the Muslims and appointed him a general leader over the nation.

He raised Imam Ali’s hand until the white of their (the Prophet and Imam Ali) armpits appeared and he addressed the Muslims loudly; ‘O people, who is worthier of the believers than themselves?’ They all said, ‘Allah and His…