By this isnad from Ibrahim b. Muhammad al-Thaqafi. He said: Al-Mas`udi narrated to me. He said: Yahya b. Salim al-`Abdi narrated to us from Isra’il from Maysara from al-Minhal b. `Amr from Zir b. Hubaysh. He said:

`Ali passed by while mounted on mule of the Messenger of Allah (s) with Salman. So, Salman said: Will you not go to him and take him by his belt? For, by Him who split the seed and gave life, none can inform you of the secret of your Prophet (s) except him. He is the scholar and the master of the Earth, and it settles due to him. If you lose him, you will have lost knowledge and negated the people.