Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and “ourselves and yourselves” referred to Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him.

The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “Tomorrow I shall certainly give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love.” He then summoned Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—and entrusted the banner to him. This took place on the day of Khaybar, and Allah, the Most Generous, granted victory at his hands. Thus, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—declared that Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—loved Allah and His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and that Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and His Messenger loved Alī—may Allah be pleased with him.

Buraydah al-Aslamī related that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “My Lord, Glorified and Exalted, commanded me to love four men and informed me that He loves them. You, O Alī, are one of them! You, O Alī, are one of them! You, O Alī, are one of them!” He said this three times.

Ā’ishah—may Allah be pleased with her—was asked about Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—and replied, “I never saw any man more beloved to the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—than he was, nor any woman more beloved to the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—than his wife.”

It is also related from Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad, from his father, from his grandfather, that Gabriel—peace be upon him—came to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and said, “O Muhammad, Allah, Glorified and Exalted, commands you to love Alī and to love whoever loves Alī.”

Anas ibn Mālik related: A mountain bird was brought to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and he said, “O Allah,