3. He said: Abu al-Tayyib al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Nahwiy reported to me from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, who reported from Abu Hatim, from Abu Ubaidah who said: Nabighah al-Ja’diy was a monotheist even in the pre-Islamic era, rejecting all wines and intoxicants and avoiding idol worshipping and fortune telling as abominations. And among his statements during the pre-Islamic era is what he said: "All Praise be to Allah, Who has no associate, Whoever does not say so, wrongs himself." He professed the religion of Ibrahim and was Hanif, always praying and fasting, abstaining from things in which people indulged. And he called upon the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, and said: "I have come to the messenger of Allah, as he came with guidance; And recites the Book, (the wisdom of which is) spread like a constellation; And I tried my best together with my companions, but failed to see, the Canopus star as it rose and then disappeared; And I have adopted the path of Taqwa, fearing no disbeliever, and have always held back from the fearful fire." He said: Nabighah was inclined towards ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and after the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, he left to meet Amirul Mu’mineen at the battle of Siffin. He arrived at night and was straitened to see the situation. So he said: "Both the Misrs (i.e. Egypt and Hijaz) and Iraq know well, that ‘Ali is its highborn; He is the brilliant master and of pure nobility, His mother is the one for whom dowry became high; The most honourable among those for whom one may tighten his belt, The others may be your contemporaries but can not excel. They have their own field, and you have your own. And your companions have distinguished them; you have led to the path of true guidance. While they have led to a group where hypocrisy is the way of life."