فَقاَل لي رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ اجْلسْ.

Al-Tabari, the author of Khasa’is has quoted the prophet (S) as saying: The angels sent greeting on me and ‘Ali for seven years in heaven, for during this period of time no voice except that of ‘Ali and me was raised to heaven by saying: There is no god but Allah.[^3] In the book, Yawaqit, Abi- Umar Zahid has quoted Layla Ghifar on the authority of the Holy Prophet (S) as saying: Actually, ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib is the first person among people who believed in Islam and the first person whom I will see on the Day of Judgment, the last person to whom I say farewell and trust my last will and testament at deathbed.

Ibn Abbas has been quoted by Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his book Musnad as saying: The first person who worshipped God with the Holy Prophet after Khadijah was ‘Ali (a.s).[^4] Salman Farsi has been quoted by Abu’l-Mu’ayyad as saying: I heard from the Messenger of Allah saying: the first person whom I see at the pond is the first man of faith and Islam, ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s).[^5] Amr ibn Maymun has been quoted by Ahmad ibn Hanbal as saying: I was in the presence of Ibn Abbas when nine groups joined our gathering.

They said: We wish to talk to you privately. Either rise up and come along with us or make this gathering private. He said: I will come along with you. This happened when Ibn Abbas had not lost his sight. When Ibn Abbas attended their gathering, they started speaking to him.