My father رحمه الله narrated to us. He said: Sa`d b. `Abdullah and `Abdullah b. Ja`far al-Himyari narrated to us. They said: Ahmad b. Muhammad b. `Isa narrated to us from Muhammad b. Khalid al-Barqi from Ahmad b. Yazid al-Nishapuri. He said: `Umar b. Ibrahim al-Hashimi narrated to me from `Abd al-Malik b. `Umayr from Usayd b. Safwan the companion of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. He said: On the day that Amir al-Mu’minin عليه السلام passed away, the place was jolted in weeping. The people were frightened, just like in the day that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم passed away. A weeping man came hurriedly. He was saying: Today, the vicegerency of prophethood has been cut off. Then, he stood at the door of the house that Amir al-Mu’minin عليه السلام was in. So, he said: May Allah have mercy on you, Aba’l Hasan. You were the first of the people to enter Islam, the sincerest of them in faith, the most intense of them in certainty, the most Godfearing of them, the greatest of them in effort, the most prudent of them over the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, the most protective over his companions, the best of them in virtues, the most honourable of them in precedent, the highest of them in rank; the nearest of them to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, the most similar to him in guidance, character, resemblance, and actions, the most noble of them in status, and the most favoured of them to him. So, may Allah reward you with goodness on behalf of Islam, its Messenger, and the Muslims. You were strengthened when his companions became weakened, you emerged forth when they settled down, you rose when they languished, and you stuck to the way of His Messenger when they were his companions. You were truly his vicegerent. You did not quarrel nor plead despite the presence of the hypocrites, the anger of disbelievers, the hatred of enviers, and the malevolence of transgressors. You established the order when they failed, you spoke when they stuttered, you forged ahead with the light of Allah when they halted – so they followed you and were guided. Your voice was the quietest of them, you were the best of them in forthrightness, you spoke the least of them; you were the most correct of them in speech, the best of them in opinion, the boldest of them in heart, the most intense of them in certainty, the best of them in actions, and the most knowledgeable of them in matters. You were, by Allah, a leader of the religion – the first when the people would disperse, and the last when they would fail. When the believers would come to you like children, you were a merciful father to them. You carried the burdens that they were too weak to carry. You preserved what they had lost. You were aware of what they had neglected. You strove when they gathered, you rose when they were terrified, you were patient when they hurried, you comprehended whatever they differed about, and they sought you in that which they did not understand. For the disbelievers, you were an outpouring punishment. For the believers, you were [like] rain and arability. By Allah, you were formed for its blessing, you succeeded for its love, you became its precedent, and you went in its virtues. Your argument never failed, your heart never went astray, your insight was never weakened, and you were never cowardly or traitorous. You were like a mountain: storms cannot shake it, and sieges cannot wipe it out. You were as he صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: Weak in your constitution, strong in the order of Allah, humble in your self, great with Allah, grand in the Earth, and majestic with the believers. None can find faults in you, nor can one claim to find corruption in you. For you, the weak and servile are great and glorious (important), until they are given their rights; and the great and glorious are weak and servile (unimportant), until their rights are taken away from them. The distant and the near equal to you. Your way is truth, honesty, and affability. Your words are judgment and decisive. Your affair is forbearance and determination. Your opinion is knowledge and integrity. Because of you, the path has been established, hardships have been eased, fires have been extinguished, the religion has been balanced, and Islam and Muslims have been strengthened. You have gone ahead, and you have caused great weariness for those behind you. You are too great for our tears. Your mourning is great is heaven, and your tragedy has threatened the people. So: to Allah we belong, and to Him will we return. We are pleased with what Allah has destined, and we have submitted to His order. By Allah, the Muslims will never be afflicted with something like this again after you. For the believers, you were a fortified cave, and for the disbelievers, you were a toughening rage. May Allah reunite you with His Prophet, and not deprive us of your reward, and not misguide us after you. The people were silent until he completed his words. He wept, and he made the companions of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم weep. Then, they sought after him, but they did not find him.