4. He said: Abul Hasan ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Katib reported to me from al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali al-Za’farani, who reported from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi, who reported from Uthman ibn Abi Shaibah from Amru ibn Maymoon, from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from his father, from his grandfather, peace be upon them, that: Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, once said from the pulpit of Kufa:

"O people, the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, has awarded me ten traits; and they are dearer to me than anything upon which the sun shines." He said to me: ‘Ali, you are my brother in this world and in the next; And on the Day of Judgement, when we stand before the Almighty, you will be nearest of all to me; Your abode in Paradise will be facing mine, the way brothers in faith live, with their houses facing each other; You are my heir; You are my executor after me, to fulfil my promises and my affairs; And in my absence, you are the guardian of my family, on my behalf; You are the Imam of my Ummah; You are the one to uphold justice among my subjects; You are my beloved one; and Allah loves who I love; Your foe is my foe and my foe is the foe of Allah.