Hadith No: 2
Al-Manawi - Fayd al-Qadeer Sharh al-Jaami' al-Sagheer - Letter of the Hamzah (ء) - Indeed, Allah commanded me to love four of the men
Volume: (2) - Page Number: (214)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
1692 -
Indeed, Allah commanded me to love four of the men and informed me that He loves them. It was said, "Intercede between them and us, O Messenger of Allah." He said,
"Ali ibn Abi Talib is one of them," the knowledge that is not ambiguous and the individual who is unconfused, so there is no need for a description. Al-Saad al-Taftazani stated: Nothing has been reported in the virtues that matches what was narrated for Ali (peace be upon him) and Abu Dharr al-Ghifari. Junayd ibn Junadah, one of the foremost pioneers, was a majestic and tall man, ascetic and living simply. He died in al-Rubdhah in the year 32. Al-Miqdad ibn Amr ibn Thalbah al-Kindi became known as Ibn al-Aswad because he was in the care of al-Aswad ibn Abd Yaghuth. He was an early Muslim and a companion who died in the year 33 at the age of seventy. Salman al-Farisi, the freedman of the Chosen One (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), is known as Salman al-Khayr. His origin is from Persia .... And he said: "Strange and good."