He said: Abul Hasan Ali b. Khalid al-Maraghi reported to me from Abul Qasim al-Hasan b. Ali al-Kufi, who reported from Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Marwan al-Ghazzal, who reported from his father, who reported from Ubaid b. Khunais al-Abdi, who reported from Sabbah b. Yahya al-Muzni, from Abdullah b. Sharik, from al-Harith b. Tha'labah who said:
Two men left for Makkah and Medina in or before the month, and came upon a group leaving for Haj. They said: We joined them, and as we rode forward, we came across a man who seemed to be their leader. He pulled himself aside from the group, and came to us asking: "You are from Iraq?" We said: "Yes, we are Iraqis." He said: "You may be from Kufa?" We said: "Yes, we are from Kufa." He asked: "To which clan do you belong?" We said: "We are from Banu Kananah." He asked: "Which family of Banu Kananah?" We said: "We are from the descendants of Malik b. Kananah."
He said: "Most welcome, most welcome. I beseech you in the name of the Holy Revelation and the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), did you ever hear Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) abusing me, or saying that he was my enemy or that he would fight me?" We said: "No, but we have heard him say: Be on your guard against the deviations of the pug-nosed." He said: "There are many who are pug-nosed, but did you hear him grudging against me by name?" We said: "No.".
(Upon hearing this), he said: "Allah is Great. Allah is Great. I should have gone astray, and would not be among the rightly guided, if I fight or be his adversary, (especially) after the four virtues I learned from the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, regarding him {i.e. Ali (AS)}. For if I had only one of those four, I would have valued it more than the whole world and whichever is in it, spending in it the life span of Noah."
We said: "Mention them to us."
He said: "I did not recall this but for the purpose of mentioning them. The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, sent Abu Bakr with the verses of al-Bar'aah (Surah al-Tawbah) to declare them to the infidels (of Makkah), but when he had travelled for a night or a part of it, the Prophet sent Ali to Abu Bakr saying: "Take charge of the declaration from him, and send him back to me." So Amirul Mo'mineen, peace be upon him, proceeded, and having taken the charge from Abu Bakr, asked him to return to the Prophet. When he arrived before the Prophet, he (i.e. Abu Bakr) wept and said: "O messenger of Allah! Has anything (untoward) happened about me, or has any Qur'anic revelation occurred about me?" Then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "No Qur'anic revelation has come to me about you, but Jibraeel, peace be upon him, descended upon me with the divine command, saying: 'No one can discharge this responsibility except yourself or someone of yourself.' And Ali is of me and I am of him, so no one will purvey on my behalf but Ali."
We asked: "And what is the second one?"
He said: We lived in the mosque of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, together with the family of Ali. The family of Abu Bakr, the family of Umar and his uncles. Then one night, it was announced to us: "With the exception of the Prophet's family and the family of Ali, all others must withdraw and quit. So we vacated dragging our bag and baggage. In the morning, his uncle, Hamzah, came to him and said: "O messenger of Allah, you evicted us and allowed this young boy to remain? We are your uncles and the elders of your family." Then the Prophet said: "I did not ask you to leave, nor did I allow him (i.e. Ali) to stay. It was by the command of Allah, Most High."
We said: "And what is the third?"
He said: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, appointed Abu Bakr as a standard bearer and sent him to the fort of Khaybar. He brought it back. Then he appointed Umar, who also brought it back (without success). The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, was deeply disturbed, so he said: "Tomorrow, I shall indeed give the standard to a man who Allah and His Prophet love, and he (too) loves Allah and His Prophet. He will be the steadfast one, never running away. He will not return till Allah blesses (us) with victory upon his hands."
When the next day dawned, we raised ourselves on our knees and toes, but did not find him calling anyone from among us. He then announced: "Where is Ali b. Abi Talib?" Ali was brought to him, suffering from sore-eye. He put his saliva into his eyes, gave him the standard. And Allah blessed (us) with the victory at his hands."
We aid: "And what is the fourth one?"
He said: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, left for the battle of Tabuk, leaving behind Ali in his place. The Quraishites became jealous of him (i.e. Ali) and said: "The Prophet has left him behind because he does not like his company." (When Ali heard this), he followed the Prophet and upon arrival, placed his hand on the stirrup of the Prophet's camel, saying: "Surely, I will follow you." The Prophet said: "What has happened to you?" He wept and said: "The Quraishites believe that you left me behind because you hate me, and do not prefer my company."
The Prophet ordered an announcement for people to assemble and then (addressing them) said: "O people, Is there anyone among you who does not have the closest and most distinctly notable among his relatives." They said: "Yes, we do have." Then he said: "Surely, Ali, son of Abu Talib, is the closest to me among my relatives, and is most beloved to my heart." Then he came to Ali (AS) and said: "Does it not please you to be to me what Haroon was to Musa; except that there is no prophet after me?" Ali said: "My pleasure is with Allah and His Prophet."
Then Sa'd said: "These are the four virtues, and if you feel inclined, I may relate to you the fifth one!"
We said: "We would like to know it."
He said: "We were with the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, in the farewell pilgrimage. When returning (from Haj) he dismounted at Ghadeer Khumm, and ordered an announcement for all to assemble. Then he proclaimed: "O people, of whoever I am the master, this Ali also is his master. O Allah, befriend one who befriends him, and hate one who hates him. Help one who helps him, and forsake one who forsakes him."

Ali (AS) forbade initiating the battle
He said: Abul Hasan Ali b. Khalid al-Maraghi al-Qalanisi reported to me from Abul Qasim al-Hasan b. Ali b. al-Hasan, who reported from Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Marwan who reported from his father, who reported from Ishaq b. Yazid, who reported from Khalid b. Mukhtar, who reported from al-A'amash from Habbah alArani, who said:
I heard Hudhaifa b. al-Yaman a year before Uthman b. Affan was killed, saying: "As if I see your mother al-Humayra (i.e. Ayesha) on an expedition, being led on a camel, and you all clinging to the camel's flank and tail. She is with the people of Azd (a tribe) and is supported by Banu Dhabbah; may Allah sever their feet."
Then he said: When the battle of Jamal (the Camel) took place, and people prepared to confront each other, an announcer announced on behalf of Amirul Mo'mineen, peace be upon him, saying: "No one of you shall initiate the fight without my orders." Then they arrived: their arrows and hit us. We said: "O Amirul Mo'mineen, we have been hit." He said: "Withhold." Then again, they hit us and killed some of us. We said: "O Amirul Mon'mineen, we have been killed." So he said: "Attack! With the blessing of Allah."
He said: We attached our raised lances and spears to each others', so close, that if someone were to walk, he could walk over them. Then Ali (A.S.) announced: "Take to the swords." So we began to strike at their helmets but our swords bounced off. Then Amirul Mo'mineen said: "Aim at the feet."
He said: We have never seen so many feet chopped off on any one day. Then I remembered the narration of Hudhaifa when he mentioned Banu Dhabbah as her helpers, saying "may Allah sever their feet." I knew that it was a prayer, which had been answered.
Then Amirul Mo'mineen announced: "Proceed towards the camel for it is surely Satan." One soldier wounded the camel with his spear, and another one cut off its hand, so it fell to the ground with foam spurring from its mouth. Then Ayesha uttered a loud cry and her people turned back defeated. So, Amirul Mo'mineen announced: "Do not attack those who are fallen with wounds, and do not chase those who have fled. And whoever shuts his door, he shall be in peace. And whoever lays down his arms he shall be in peace."

Ali is my brother, my minister and my successor
He said: Abu Ubaidullah Muhammad b. Imran al-Marzbani reported to me from Abul Fadhl Abdullah b. Muhammad al-Tusi, who reported from Abu Abdul Rahman Abdullah b. Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Hanbal, who reported from Muhammad b. Yahya b. Abi Saminah, who reported from Ubaidullah b. Musa, who reported from Matar al-Iskaf that:
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Verily, Ali is my brother, my minister and my successor in the family, and he is the best of all who survive me, he will repay my debts and fulfil my pledges."

What Jabir said about Ali (AS)
He said: Abu Ubaidullah Muhammad b. Imran al-Marzbani reported to me from Abul Fadhl Abdullah b. Muhammad al-Tusi (may Allah bless him with mercy) who reported from Abdullah b. Ahmad b. Hanbal, who reported from Ali b. Hakim al-Awadi, who reported from Sharik, from Uthman b. Abu Zara'h, from Salim b. Abi al-Ja'd that:
Jabir b. Abdillah al-Ansari was once asked, (during his old age) when his eyebrows had fallen over his eyes: "Tell us about Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be upon him." Jabir lifted his eyebrows with his hands and said: "He is the best of all creatures, no one hates him but a hypocrite and no one doubts in him except an infidel."

The lonely martyr
He said: Al-Sharif Abu Abdillah Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Jawani reported to me from al-Mudhaffar b. Ja'far al-Alawi al-Umri, who reported from Ja'far b. Muhammad b Masood, from his father, from Muhammad b. Hatim, who reported from Suwaid b. Saeed, who reported from Muhammad b. Abdul Rahim al-Yamani, from Ibn Meena, from his father who reported that Aisha said:
Once Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) came upon the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, seeking permission to enter, but he did not permit. So, he sought permission once again and the Prophet peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Enter, O Ali." When Ali entered, the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, stood up, embraced him and kissed him between the eyes and said: "May my father be ransom for the martyr; may my father be ransom for the lonely martyr."

Dying the death of an infidel
He said: Abul Hasan Muhammad b. Ja'far reported to me from Hisham b. Yunus al-Nahshali, who reported from Abu Muhammad al-Ansari, who reported from Abu Bakr b. Ayyash, from Muhammad b. Shihab al-Zuhari, from Anas b. Malik, that:
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, looked at Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) and said: "O Ali, whoever hates you, Allah shall cause him to die the death of infidels, and on the day of Judgement, will ask him to account for his deeds (also)."

The Prophet commanded to reveal virtues of Ali (AS)
He said: Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Umar al-Je'abi reported to me from Abu Muhammad Abdullah b. Muhammad b. Saeed b. Ziyad al-Muqri from his book, reporting from Ahmad b. Isa b. al-Hasan al-Hawbi, who reported from Nasr b. Hammad who reported from Amru b. Shimr, from Jabir al-Ja'fi who reported from Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon him, that Jabir b. Abdullah al-Ansari said:
The Angel Jibraeel descended unto the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, and said: "Allah commands you to address the people around you, informing them about the excellence of Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) and has commanded all the angels, to listen to what you will say; and He reveals to you that whoever will oppose you about his affair, he shall enter hell fire, and Paradise is for him who obeys you."
Then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, caused the announcement: "(Join) the congregational prayers." People assembled and the Prophet climbed the pulpit and commenced first by saying: "I seek refuge from Satan, the condemned and I begin in the name of Allah, Most Merciful." Then he said:
"O people, I am the bringer of good tidings and I am the warner. I am the Prophet, born in Ummul Qura'. I am now conveying to you, from Allah, Most High, about a man whose flesh is from my flesh and whose blood is from my blood; he is treasure-house of the knowledge and he is the one who Allah has selected from this Ummah, chosen him, befriended him and guided. Allah created me and him from one essence and blessed me with the Prophethood and blessed him with the task of purveying on my behalf. He made me city of the knowledge and made him its gate.
He made him a treasurer of the knowledge and the source from whom divine laws are received. He blessed him with specific divine appointment, made clear his position, forwarned against animosity to him and made affection towards him obligatory, enjoining all people to obey him. And He, Most High, says: "Whoever hates him, hates Me and whoever befriends him, befriends Me. Whoever rises against him, rises against Me and whoever opposes him, opposes Me. Whoever disobeys him, disobeys Me and whoever harms him, harms Me. Whoever despises him, despises Me.
And whoever loves him, loves Me and whoever obeys him, obeys Me. Whoever pleases him, pleases Me and whoever protects him, protects Me. Whoever fights him, fights Me and whoever helps him, helps Me. Whoever intends foul against him, does so against Me and whoever plots against him, plots against Me."
O People! Listen to my command and obey it. For I warn you against the severe punishment by Allah. On the Day when every soul will find present before it every good deed it has done; and whatever evil it has done, it will wish that there be between it and the evil it has done, a great distance. And Allah cautions you of Himself."
Then he took Amirul Momineen (i.e. Ali b. Abi Talib), peace be upon him, by his hand and said: "O people! This is the master of the believers and the annihilator of the infidels and the proof of Allah to all mankinds. O Allah, I have indeed, conveyed and they are your servants. And You are able to reform them so reform them by Your mercy, O Most Merciful."
Then he came down from the pulpit and the angel Jibraeel came unto him saying: "O Muhammad, Allah sends you Salaam and says: May Allah reward you best for having conveyed. You have indeed conveyed the message from your Sustainer and given your Ummah the correct advice. You have pleased the faithfuls and constrained the infidels. O Muhammad, your cousin will be stricken with affliction and because of him, some will be surely tried. And those who do wrong, shall soon come to know what punishment awaits them."

Ali's faith and descent
He said: Abul Hasan Ali b. Muhammad reported to me from Ahmad b. Ibrahim, who reported from Abul Hasan Ali b. al-Hasan, who reported from al-Husain b. Nasr b. Mazahim, who reported from his father, who reported from Abu Abdil Rahman Abdullah b. Abdul Malik, from Yahya b. Salimah, from his father Salimah b. Kuhail, from Abu Sadiq who said:
I heard Amirul Mo'mineen Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be upon him say: "My faith is that of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, and my descent is the descent of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny. So whoever, speaks ill of my faith and my descent, slurs the faith and the descent of the Prophet."
"O, Allah! I love Ali, so you also love him"
He said: Abu Nasr Muhammad b. al-Husain al-Muqri reported to me from Abu Abdillah al-Husain b. Ubaidullah al-Zurari, who reported from Abu Abdillah Ja'far b. Abdullah al-Alawi al-Muhammadi, who reported from Yahya b. Hashim al-Ghassani, who reported form Ismail b. Ayyash, from Muadh b. Rafaah, from Shahr b. Hawshab, who said:
By Allah, I cannot be stopped by Mu'awiya's authority to speak the truth about Ali, peace be upon him. I heard the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, say: "Ali is the best among you; and in matter of religion, he is the most learned jurist among you, and he knows incisively about my Traditions, more than any of you. And as far the Book of Allah (i.e. the Qu'ran), he is its best student among you all. O, Allah! I love Ali, so You also love him; O Allah! I love Ali, so You also love him."

What al-Khidr said to Ali (AS)
He said: Abu Nasr Muhammad b. al-Husain reported to me from Abu Ali Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Sawli, who reported from Abdul Aziz b. Yahya al-Jaloodi, who reported from al-Husain b. Hameed, who reported from Mukhawwal b. Ibrahim, who reported from Swaleh b. Abul Aswad, who reported from Mahfooz b. Ubaidullah, from a Sheikh from Hadhramaut, from Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyyah - may Allah bless him with mercy, who said:
Once, while Amirul Mo'mineen Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be upon him, was going around the Ka'bah , he came across a man who had clung to the curtains of the sacred house, saying: 'O, He, Whom one hearing does not distract from another and O, He, Who is not misled by the seekers, and O, He, Who is not wearied by the insistent supplication. Grant me the coolness of Your Pardon and the sweetness of Your mercy."
Amirul Mo'mineen (A.S.) asked him: "Is this your prayer?" The man said: "So, you heard it?" He said: "Yes". The man said: "Pray this way at the end of every Daily prayer. By Allah, when a faithful prays with these words at the end of the Daily prayer, Allah forgives him all his sins even if they equal the heavenly stars in number, or the pebbles and the earth in abundance." Then Amirul Mo'mineen, peace be upon him, told him: "I have the knowledge of it, and Allah is Infinite, Beneficent." The man who was al-Khidhr, peace be upon him, said: "By Allah, you are right O, Amirul Mo'mineen. Over everyone endowed with knowledge, there is One Who knows most."

Source:
Al-Amali