`Abdullah b. al-Nadr b. Sam`an al-Tamimi al-Kharqani narrated to us. He said: Ja`far b. Muhammad al-Makki narrate to us. He said: Abu Muhammad `Abdullah b. Ishaq al-Mada’ini informed us from Muhammad b. Ziyad from al-Mughira from Sufyan from Hisham b. `Urwa from his father `Urwa b. al-Zubayr. He said:

We were sitting in a gathering in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (s), and we mentioned the deeds of the people of Badr and the Allegiance of Ridwan. So, Abu’l Darda’ said: O people! Shall I not inform you of him who has the least wealth and the most piety, who strives hardest in worship? They said: Who? He said: `Ali b. Abi Talib . He said: By Allah, among the people of the gathering, all of them had disagreement written on their faces. Then, a man from the Ansar was chosen [to speak on their behalf], and he said to him: O `Uwaymir! You have said something that not one person agreed with. So, Abu’l Darda’ said: O people! I am saying what I have seen, and every people among you will say what they saw. By the scalps of carpenters! I have witnessed `Ali b. Abi Talib – when he left his followers and disappeared from them and concealed himself by the streams of the palm trees – I lost him, and he became far from me. I said [to myself]: “He went to his house.” Then, I came across a sorrowful voice and a mellow tone saying: “My God! How many perils have you alleviated from me and repelled by Your blessing? How many offenses have You concealed by Your kindness? My God! If I persist in disobeying You over the course of my life, and my sins become great in the books, then I have no hope without Your forgiveness, nor will I hope for anything except Your pleasure.” The voice concerned me, so, I sought it out, and I came across `Ali b. Abi Talib . So, I concealed him, and I eased my movement. He bowed in the dead of night, then he broke into prayers, tears, calling out and lamenting. Among what he whispered to Allah, he said: “My God! I think about Your forgiveness, and my errors become trivial. Then, I think abut the greatness of Your chastisement, and my distress weighs over on me.” Then, he said: “Oh, if I read about a sin in my record, I forget about it, whilst You tally it. So, it is said, ‘take him [into punishment].’ He who is taken will not be saved by his kinsmen, nor will he be helped by his tribe; but the Master will have mercy on him if He permits.” Then, he said: “Oh, [save me] from a Fire that dries out the livers and kidneys; oh, from a Fire that scalps the heads; oh, from submersion into a fiery blaze.” He said: Then, he prolonged his weeping. Then, I did not hear any movement coming from him, so, I said: “He has been overcome by sleep due to his long vigil. He will awake for Fajr prayer.” Abu’l Darda’ said: So, I came to him, and he was like an abandoned log. I tried to move him, but he would not move. I held him in a grip, but he did not respond thusly. So, I said: “We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return. By Allah, `Ali b. Abi Talib has died.” He said: So, I went to his house and I immediately called out to them. So, Fatima said: “O Aba’l Darda’! What is his story?” So, I informed her about what had happened, then, she said: “By Allah, Aba’l Darda’, this is a trance that overtakes him from his humility before Allah.” Then, I took water to him, and I sprinkled it onto his face. He awoke, and he looked at me whilst I was weeping. So, he said: “What has caused you to weep, O Aba’l Darda’?” So, I said: “What I have seen you do to yourself.” So, he said: “O Aba’l Darda’! So how would you be if you had seen my Lord call me to Judgment, and the criminals have been sent to punishment, and I am left by the tormenting, ruthless angels, and I stand before the angel of the Powerful – I receive peace from my lovers, and the people of this world have mercy on me – yet, the best mercy for me will be before Him who does not hide it from me!” So, Abu’l Darda’ said: So, by Allah, I did not see that in any of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (s).