Ahmad b. Muhammad the just goldsmith narrated to us. He said: `Isa b. Muhammad al-`Alawi narrated to us. He said: Abu `Uwana narrated to us. He said: Muhammad b. Sulayman b. Baziq al-Khazzaz narrated to us. He said: Isma`il b. Aban narrated to us from Salam b. Abi `Umra al-Khurasani from Ma`ruf b. Kharbudh al-Makki from Abi’l Tufayl `Amer b. Wathila from Hudhayfa b. Usayd al-Ghifari. He said:

The Messenger of Allah (s) said: O Hudhayfa! Surely, the Proof of Allah over you after me is `Ali b. Abi Talib. Disbelieving him is disbelieving in Allah, associating partners with him is associating partners with Allah, doubting him is doubting Allah, denying him is denying Allah, and negating him is negating Allah; for he is the brother of the Messenger of Allah, his deputy, and the Imam of his Nation and their Master. He is the firm Rope of Allah and the Firm Handle with no crack in it. Regarding him, two will be destroyed, to no fault of his: an excess lover (muhib ghal) and one who falls short (muqassir). O Hudhayfa! Do not split away from `Ali, for you will have split away from me; and do not oppose `Ali, for you will have opposed me. Surely, `Ali is from me and I am from him. Whoever hurts him has hurt me, and whoever pleases him has pleased me.