465 - Ahmad ibn al-Faraj Abu 'Utba al-Himsiyy said: Ja'far ibn 'Awn narrated to us, saying: al-Fadl ibn Marzuq narrated to us, saying: I heard al-Hasan ibn Hasan, and a man asked him: 'Did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) not say: "Whoever I am his mawla (master/friend), then 'Ali is his mawla?"' He replied: 'Yes. But by Allah, had the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) meant by that leadership and authority, he would have clarified it to them. There was no one more sincere to the Muslims than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He would have said to them: "O people, this is the one who will be in charge of your affairs and the one to stand for you after me, so listen to him and obey him." By Allah, there is nothing beyond that. By Allah, if Allah and His Messenger had chosen 'Ali for this matter and for the standing for the Muslims after him, then 'Ali abandoned what Allah and His Messenger had chosen for him to undertake until he was excused before the Muslims, then no one would have a greater sin or transgression than 'Ali for abandoning what Allah and His Messenger had chosen for him, until he stood for it as Allah and His Messenger had commanded him.'