Hadith No: 1
Ahmad ibn Hanbal - Musnad Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Musnad of the Ten Blessed with Paradise - Musnad of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
And from the Musnad of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)
Volume: (1) - Page Number: (108/109)
861 - Aswad ibn Amir narrated to us, who said: Abd al-Hamid ibn Abi Ja'far, meaning al-Farra, narrated to me, from Isra'il, from Abu Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yath'i, from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, who will be appointed after you?" He said, "If you are led by Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), you will find him trustworthy, ascetic in this world, and desirous of the Hereafter. And if you are led by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), you will find him strong, trustworthy, and not afraid of the blame of anyone in Allah." "And if you are led by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and I do not see you doing this, you will find him a guide, rightly guided, taking you along the straight path."

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Reference: Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Book 1

Hadith No: 2
Ahmad ibn Hanbal - Fada'il al-Sahabah (The Virtues of the Companions)
He was asked about the virtues of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah have mercy on him and welcome him - regarding the narration that he was the first to embrace Islam.
Volume: (1) - Page Number: (231)
284 - Abdullah narrated to us, who said: My father narrated to us, from Quthnā, Aswad ibn 'Amir said: Abd al-Hamid ibn Abi Ja'far, meaning al-Farra', narrated to me from Israel from Abu Ishaq from Zayd ibn Yath'i from Ali, who said: It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, who will be appointed after you?" He said, "If you are commanded to appoint Abu Bakr, you will find him trustworthy, ascetic in this world, and desirous of the Hereafter. And if you are commanded to appoint Umar, you will find him strong, trustworthy, and not afraid of the blame of anyone in Allah." "And if you are commanded to appoint Ali, and I do not see you doing so, you will find him a guiding and guided one, taking you along the straight path."

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Reference: Fazael al-Sahabah Book 1

Hadith No: 3
Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri - Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn
Book of Knowledge of the Companions - People's Questioning about the Caliphate and His Answer (s)
Volume: (3) - Page Number: (70)
4491 - Abu al-Abbas Muhammad ibn Ya'qub narrated to us, saying: al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Afwan narrated to us, and Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Jahhabi informed me, saying: Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah narrated to us, saying: al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Afwan al-Amiri narrated to us, saying: Zayd ibn al-Habbab narrated to us, saying: Fudhayl ibn Marzuq al-Rawasi narrated to us, saying: Abu Ishaq narrated to us from Zayd ibn Yath'i'ah, from Ali (peace be upon him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said, "If they appoint Abu Bakr, you will find him ascetic in this world and longing for the Hereafter. If they appoint Umar, you will find him strong and trustworthy, not fearing the reproach of a blameworthy in God, the Exalted. And if they appoint Ali, you will find him a guiding and rightly guided leader, who will show you the way." This is a hadith with a sound chain of narration, and they did not include it, and its supporting evidence is the hadith of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman.

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Reference: Al-Mustadarak ala al-Saheehain Book 3

Hadith No: 4
Al-Hakim al-Nisapuri - Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihain
Book on the Knowledge of the Companions - The People's Questioning about the Caliphate and His Response (p.)
Volume: (3) - Page Number: (70)
4492 - Ali ibn Abdullah al-Hakimi narrated to us in Baghdad, saying: Al-Abbas ibn Muhammad al-Duri narrated to us, saying: Al-Aswad ibn Amir ibn Shadhan narrated to us, saying: Sharik ibn Abdullah narrated to us, from Uthman ibn Umayr, from Shaqiq ibn Salamah, from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: They said, "O Messenger of Allah, if you were to appoint a successor over us?" He said, "If I appoint a successor over you and you disobey him, a punishment will descend upon you." They said, "What if you appointed Abu Bakr over us?" He said, "If he is appointed over you, you will find him strong in the command of Allah, weak in his body." They said, "What if you appointed Umar over us?" He said, "If he is appointed over you, you will find him strong, trustworthy, not deterred by the reproach of any reproacher in Allah." They said, "What if you appointed Ali over us?" He said, "You will not do so, and if you do, you will find him a guiding, rightly guided one, leading you along the Straight Path." This Uthman ibn Umayr is Abu al-Yaqazan.

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Reference: Al-Mustadarak ala al-Saheehain Book 3

Hadith No: 5
Ibn Kathir - Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya - Year Forty of the Prophetic Hijra
Chapter on Mentioning Some of the Virtues of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) - The Hadith of the Charity with the Ring While He Was in Ruku
Volume: (11) - Page Number: (99)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... Al-Imam Ahmad said: Aswad ibn Amer narrated to us, who said: Abdulhamid ibn Abi Ja'far, meaning Al-Farra, narrated to me from Isra'il, from Abu Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yatheer, from Ali, who said: It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, who should we obey after you?" He replied, "You should obey Abu Bakr; you will find him trustworthy, ascetic in this world, and desirous of the Hereafter. And you should obey Umar; you will find him strong, trustworthy, and not fearing the blame of the critic in Allah." "And you should obey Ali, although I do not see you doing so; you will find him a guiding, divinely guided one, who will take you along the straight path."....

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Reference: Al-Bidaayah wa al-Nihaayah Book 11

Hadith No: 6
Al-Osbehani - Hilliyat al-Awliya wa Tabaqat al-Asfiyā
Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Master of the People, Mahabb al-Mashhood, and Mahbub al-Ma'bud, the Gate of the City of Knowledge and Sciences ...
Volume: (1) - Page Number: (64)
- Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Umar narrated to us, who said: Abu Husayn al-Wad'i narrated to us, who said: Yahya ibn Abd al-Hamid narrated to us, who said: Sharik narrated to us, from Abu al-Yaqzan, from Abu Wa'il from Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman, who said: They said, "O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint Ali as your successor?" He replied, "If they entrust Ali to lead you, you will find him a guiding and divinely guided one, who will lead you along the Straight Path." This was also narrated by al-Numan ibn Abi Shaybah al-JundI from al-Thawri, from Abu Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yathii, from Hudhayfa, to a similar effect.

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Reference: Hilyah al-Awliyah Wa Tabaqaat al-Asfeyaa Book 1

Hadith No: 7
Al-Isbahani - Halat al-Awliya' wa Tabaqat al-Asfiyya'
Ali ibn Abi Talib and the leader of the people, Mahabb al-Mashhud and Mahbub al-Ma'bud, the gate of the City of Knowledge and Sciences ...
Volume: (1) - Page Number: (64)
- Sulaiman ibn Ahmad narrated to us, saying: Abdullah ibn Wahb al-Ghazi narrated to us, saying: Ibn Abi al-Sari narrated to us, saying: Abdul-Razzaq narrated to us, saying: al-Numan ibn Abi Shaybah al-Jundi narrated to us, from Sufyan al-Thawri, from Abu Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yathi', from Hudhayfah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said: "If you are ever to appoint a successor, Ali, I do not think you will do so, will be a guiding and guided leader who will guide you on the clear sacred path." This was also narrated by Ibrahim ibn Harasah from al-Thawri, from Abu Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yathi', from Ali (peace be upon him), Nadhir ibn Janah al-Qadi narrated to us, saying: Ishaq ibn Muhammad ibn Mehran narrated to us, from my father, from Ibrahim ibn Harasah, from Ibn Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yathi', from Ali, from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), similar to this.

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Reference: Hilyah al-Awliyah Wa Tabaqaat al-Asfeyaa Book 1

Hadith No: 8
Al-Bazzar - Musnad al-Bazzar published under the title al-Bahr al-Zakhar
Musnad of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) - Among the narrations narrated by Zayd ibn Yath'i from Ali
Volume: (3) - Page Number: (32)

783 - Hafs ibn Amr al-Rubali narrated to us, saying: Zayd ibn al-Habab narrated to us, saying: Fudayl ibn Marzuq narrated to us, from Abu Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yath'i, from Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said, "If you appoint Abu Bakr, you will find him ascetic in this world, desiring the Hereafter. And if you appoint Umar, you will find him strong and trustworthy, not deterred by the blame of a blamer in Allah." "And if you appoint Ali, you will find him a guiding, rightly guided one, who will lead you along the Straight Path, but you will not do so." And we do not know of this hadith being narrated from Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) except from this source with this chain of narration.

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Reference: Musnada al bazaar al manshoor basim al bahre al zakhaar Book 3

Hadith No: 9
Al-Bazzar - Musnad al-Bazzar published under the name al-Bahr al-Zkhar
Musnad of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) The first Musnad of Hudhayfah, of Ammar ibn Yasir narrating from Hudhayfah
Abu al-Yaqdhan from Abu Wa'il from Hudhayfah
Volume: (7) - Page Number: (299)
2895 - Abdullah ibn Wadhah al-Kufi said: Abdullah ibn Wadhah al-Kufi narrated to us, saying: Yahya ibn al-Yaman informed us, saying: Sharik narrated to us from Abu al-Yaqdhan from Abu Wa'il from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: They said, "O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint a successor for us?" He replied, "If I appoint a successor for you and you disobey my successor, punishment will descend upon you." They said, "Will you not appoint Abu Bakr?" He said, "If you appoint him, you will find him weak in body but strong in the command of Allah." They said, "Will you not appoint Umar?" He said, "If you appoint him, you will find him strong in body and strong in the command of Allah." They said, "Will you not appoint Ali?" He said, "If you appoint him, and you will not do so, he will guide you on the right path, and you will find him a guide and one who is rightly guided." And we do not know of this hadith being narrated from Hudhayfah except with this chain of narration, and Abu al-Yaqdhan's name was Uthman ibn Umayr.

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Reference: Musnada al bazaar al manshoor basim al bahre al zakhaar Book 7

Hadith No: 10
Abdullah ibn Ahmad - al-Sunnah - Did the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) leave a will?
Volume: (2) - Page Number: (541)
1257 - My father narrated to me, saying: Aswad ibn Amir narrated to me, from Abd al-Hamid ibn Abi Ja'far, meaning al-Farra', from Isra'il, from Abu Ishaq, from Zayd ibn Yath'i, from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, who should we obey after you?" He said, "If you are commanded to follow Abu Bakr, you will find him trustworthy, ascetic in this world, and yearning for the Hereafter. And if you are commanded to follow Umar, you will find him strong and trustworthy, not fearing the blame of any blamer in Allah." "And if you are commanded to follow Ali, although I do not see you doing so, you will find him a guiding, divinely guided one, leading you to the straight path."

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Reference: Al-Sunnah Book 2

Hadith No: 11
Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi - Kanz al-‘Ummal fi Sunan al-Aqwal wa-l-Af‘al
Volume: (11) - Page Number: (630)
33070 - "If he appoints a successor over you, you will disobey my successor, and punishment will descend upon you." They said, "Should we not appoint Abu Bakr?" He replied, "If you appoint him, you will find him weak in body but strong in the matter of Allah." They said, "Should we not appoint Umar?" He said, "If you appoint him, you will find him strong in body and strong in the matter of Allah." They said, "Should we not appoint Ali?" He said, "If you appoint him, which you will not do, he will guide you on the path, and you will find him a guiding one, rightly guided."
33071 - "If you appoint Abu Bakr, you will find him trustworthy, ascetic in this world, and desirous of the Hereafter. If you appoint Umar, you will find him strong, trustworthy, and not fearing the blame of any blamer in Allah." "And if you appoint Ali, I do not see you doing that; you will find him a guiding one, rightly guided, leading you on the straight path."
33072 - "If you appoint Abu Bakr, you will find him strong in the matter of Allah, weak in body. If you appoint Umar, you will find him strong in the matter of Allah, strong in body." "And if you appoint Ali, and I do not see you doing that, you will find him a guiding one, rightly guided, carrying you from the clear proof."

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Reference: Kanz al-Ummaal fi Sunan al-Aqwaal wa al-Af'aal Book 11

Hadith No: 12
Al-Mutqi al-Hindi - Kanz al-Ummal fi Sunan al-Aqwal wal-Af'al
Volume: (11) - Page Number: (631)
33074 - "If he appoints a successor over you and you disobey him, punishment will descend." They said, "If you were to appoint Abu Bakr over us." He replied, "If he appoints him over you, you will find him strong in the command of Allah, weak in his body." They said, "If you were to appoint Ali over us." He replied, "You will not do so, and even if you did, you would find him a guiding, rightly-guided one, leading you along the straight path."

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Reference: Kanz al-Ummaal fi Sunan al-Aqwaal wa al-Af'aal Book 11