Tālib (1) had ten (2) virtues that no one else possessed. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said to him (3): ‘I shall certainly send out a man whom Allah will never disgrace. He loves Allah and His Messenger, [and Allah and His Messenger love him] (4).’
Those who aspired to it (5) craned forward. He then asked (6), ‘Where is Alī ibn Abī Tālib (7)?’
They replied, ‘His eyes are inflamed (8), and he is at the millstone grinding.’
He added (9), ‘Yet none of them would do the grinding.’
He came with his eyes inflamed and could barely see. He continued: ‘The Prophet blew lightly (10) into his eyes, then shook the banner three times and handed it to him (11). He returned with Safiyya, daughter of Huyayy.
‘Then he sent Abū Bakr with Sūrat al-Tawbah (12), after which he sent Alī after him (13). Alī took it from him, and the Prophet said, “It shall be carried only by a man who is from me, and I am from him.”’
(1) The words “ibn Abī Tālib” are absent from manuscripts (ن) and (م). Manuscript (ك) reads: “Alī—peace be upon him—had.”
(2) The word “ten” is absent from manuscripts (ن) and (م).
(3) The words “to him” appear only in manuscripts (و) and (ك).
(4) The text enclosed in square brackets is absent from manuscripts (ن), (م), (و), (ي), and (أ).
(5) Manuscript (ك) reads: “for it.”
(6) Manuscripts (ح) and (ب) read: “Then he said.”
(7) The words “ibn Abī Tālib” are absent from manuscripts (ن), (م), (و), (ي), and (أ). Manuscript (ك) reads: “Alī—peace be upon him.”
(8) The description “suffering from inflamed eyes” does not appear in manuscript (ك).
(9) The words “he said” appear only in manuscripts (و) and (ك).
(10) Manuscript (ك) reads: “Then he spat lightly.”
(11) Manuscripts (ن), (م), (و), (ر), (ق), (ي), and (أ) read: “and handed it to him.” Manuscript (ك) reads: “then handed it to him.”
(12) Manuscripts (ح), (ر), (ي), (ب), and (ق) read: “Barā’ah (Disavowal).”
(13) Manuscript (و) reads: “Then he sent Alī—peace be upon him—after him.” Manuscript (ك) reads: “Then he—peace be upon him—sent after him.”