349 - Muhammad informed us, saying: Waki' reported to us, from Abu Bakr al-Hudhali, from al-Hasan, that Qays ibn 'Ubad and Ibn al-Kawwa' came to 'Ali and said: "Do you have any covenant from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) regarding this affair?" He replied: "I seek refuge in Allah! By Allah, I was the first to believe in him, so I will not be the first to lie against him. By Allah, I have no covenant from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) regarding this affair; for had I any covenant from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), I would have fought with these two hands of mine."
٣٤٩ - أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ: أَنْبَأَ وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْهُذَلِيِّ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، أَنَّ قَيْسَ بْنَ عُبَادٍ، وَابْنَ الْكَوَّاءِ، أَتَيَا عَلِيًّا، فَقَالَا: هَلْ عِنْدَكَ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ عَهْدٌ، فَقَالَ: «مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ، وَاللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُ لَأَوَّلَ مَنْ صَدَّقَهُ، فَلَا أَكُونُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا عِنْدِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مِنْ عَهْدٍ، وَلَوْ كَانَ عِنْدِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَهْدٌ لَقَاتَلْتُ بِيَدَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ»
