332 - Muhammad informed us, saying: Waki' narrated to us, from al-A'mash, from Salim ibn Abi al-Ja'd, from 'Abd Allah ibn Sab', who said: I heard 'Ali saying: "This—meaning his beard—will be dyed with the blood from his head. What is being awaited regarding the wretched?" They said: "Inform us who will kill you." He said: "Then, by Allah, you would be killing someone other than my killer in my stead." They said: "Will you not appoint a successor?" He said: "No, rather I will leave you to that which the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, left you." They said: "What will you say to your Lord when you meet Him?" He said: "I will say: O Allah, You left me among them, then You took me to Yourself while You are among them; so if You wish, You will reform them, and if You wish, You will corrupt them."
٣٣٢ - أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ: ثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَبْعٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ: «لَتُخَضَبَنَّ هَذِهِ، يَعْنِي لِحْيَتِهِ، مِنْ رَأْسِهِ، فِيمَا يُنْتَظَرُ بِالْأَشْقِيَاءِ؟» ، قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَاهُ بِهِ نَبِيرُ عِتْرَتَهُ، قَالَ: «إِذَنْ وَاللَّهِ تَقْتُلُونَ بِي غَيْرَ قَاتِلِي» ، قَالُوا: أَلَا تَسْتَخْلِفُ؟ قَالَ: " لَا، وَلَكِنِّي أَتْرُكْكُمْ إِلَى مَا تَرَكَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالُوا: فَمَاذَا تَقُولُ لِرَبِّكَ إِذَا لَقِيتَهُ، قَالَ: أَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ تَرَكْتِنِي فِيهِمْ، ثُمَّ قَبَضْتَنِي إِلَيْكَ وَأَنْتَ فِيهِمْ، فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَصْلَحْتَهُمْ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَفْسَدْتَهُمْ "
