1195 — Abū Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Makhlad al-Attār narrated to us, saying: Abū ⦗1725⦘ Jafar Ahmad ibn Abd Allah ibn Ziyād al-Tustarī narrated to us, saying: Sulaymān ibn al-Hakam narrated to us, saying: Sulaymān ibn Amr al-Nakhaī narrated to us, from Abd al-Malik ibn Umayr, from Suwayd ibn Ghafala, who said:

When the people pledged allegiance to Abū Bakr al-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with him), he stood to address them. After praising and extolling Allah, he said, “O people, I adjure you by Allah: if any man regrets having pledged allegiance to me, let him rise to his feet.”

The people bowed their heads as though scalding water had been poured over them. Then Ali ibn Abī Tālib approached him, carrying his sword. He drew near until he placed one foot on the step of the pulpit and the other on the gravel, and said, “By Allah, we shall neither release you from office nor ask to be released from our pledge to you. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) placed you at the forefront, so who could set you behind?”