I should have gone astray...

I should have gone astray, and would not be among the rightly guided, if I fight or be his adversary, (especially) after the four virtues I learned from the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, regarding him {i.e. ‘Ali (as)}. For if I had only one of those four, I would have valued it more than the whole world and whichever is in it, spending in it the life span of Noah." We said: "Mention them to us." He said: "I did not recall this but for the purpose of mentioning them.

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, sent Abu Bakr with the verses of al-Bar'aah (Surah al-Tawbah) to declare them to the infidels (of Makkah), but when he had travelled for a night or a part of it, the Prophet sent ‘Ali to Abu Bakr saying: "Take charge of the declaration from him, and send him back to me." So Amirul Mu’mineen, peace be upon him, proceeded, and having taken the charge from Abu Bakr, asked him to return to the Prophet. When he arrived before the Prophet, he (i.e.

Abu Bakr) wept and said: "O messenger of Allah! Has anything (untoward) happened about me, or has any Qur'anic revelation occurred about me?" Then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "No Qur'anic revelation has come to me about you, but Jibraeel, peace be upon him, descended upon me with the divine command, saying: 'No one can discharge this responsibility except yourself or someone of yourself.' And ‘Ali is of me and I am of him, so no one will purvey on my behalf but ‘Ali." We asked: "And what is the second one?" He said: We lived in the mosque of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, together with the family of ‘Ali.

The family of Abu Bakr, the family of Umar and his uncles. Then one night, it was announced to us: "With the exception of the Prophet's family and the family of ‘Ali, all others must withdraw and quit. So we vacated dragging our bag and baggage. In the morning, his uncle, Hamzah, came to him and said: "O messenger of Allah, you evicted us and allowed this young boy to remain?

We are your uncles and the elders of your family." Then the Prophet said: "I did not ask you to leave, nor did I allow him (i.e. ‘Ali) to stay. It was by the command of Allah, Most High." We said: "And what is the third?" He said: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, appointed Abu Bakr as a standard bearer and sent him to the fort of Khaybar. He brought it back. Then he appointed Umar, who also brought it back (without success).