Ibn Mandah also narrated the report of ‘Alī and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, traced back to the Prophet: Abū Ishāq Ibrāhīm ibn Muhammad narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Shu‘ayb narrated to us: Ibn ‘Ayyāsh ibn Abī Ismā‘īl narrated to us. Al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī also informed us: ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Muhammad informed us: Qutaybah and al-Rāzī narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Humayd narrated to us: Abū Zuhayr ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Maghrā’ al-Dawsī narrated to us: al-Azhar ibn ‘Abd Allāh al-Azdī narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn ‘Ajlān, from Sālim ibn ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar, from his father, who said:
“‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb met ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib and said, ‘Abū al-Hasan, sometimes you were present when we were absent, and sometimes we were present when you were absent. There are three matters I wish to ask you about. Do you have any knowledge of them?’
“‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib asked, ‘What are they?’
“He said, ‘A man loves another man although he has never received any kindness from him; and a man dislikes another man although he has never suffered any harm from him.’
“He replied, ‘Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: “Souls are troops assembled together. They meet in the air and catch one another’s scent. Those that recognize one another come together in harmony, while those that find one another unfamiliar remain at odds.”’
“‘Umar said, ‘That is one.’
“‘Umar continued, ‘A man is recounting something when he forgets it; then, while it has slipped his mind, he suddenly remembers it.’
“He replied, ‘Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: “There is no heart without a cloud like the cloud that covers the moon. While the moon is shining, a cloud suddenly covers it and it grows dark; then the cloud clears away and it shines again. Likewise, while the heart is engaged in thought, the cloud covers it and it forgets; then the cloud clears away and it remembers.”’
“‘Umar said, ‘That is two.’
“He continued, ‘A man has dreams: some come true and others prove false.’
“He replied, ‘Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: “Whenever a servant falls into deep sleep, his soul is taken up towards the Throne. If he does not awaken before reaching the Throne, that is the dream that comes true. But as for one who awakens before reaching the Throne