21. Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-`Aza’mi said: Abu Sa`id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Rumayh al-Nisawi said: `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Ishaq reported to us that Ja`far ibn Muhammad al-Hasani related to me that Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn Khalaf al-`Attar said: Bishr ibn al-Hasan al-Muradi said, on the authority of `Abd al-Quddus who is the son of Hubayb, on the authority of Abu Ishaq al-Sab`I, on the authority of al-Harith al-A`war that

`Ali ibn Abu Talib entered the market. A man had his back turned towards him and was saying, “No, I swear by the One Hidden over the seven heavens.” Consequently, `Ali tapped him on his back, and asked him: “Who is hidden over the seven heavens?” He replied, “Allah, O Commander of the Faithful!” He responded, “You are wrong. May your mother grieve you! Verily, there is no veil between Allah, the Mighty and High, and His Creation, because He is with them wherever they may be.” He asked, “What is the penalty of what I have said: O Commander of the Faithful?” He replied, “That you should know that Allah is with you wherever you are” He asked: “Should I feed the poor?” Imam `Ali replied, “No, for verily, you have sworn by other than your Lord.”