Hadith No: 1
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 (may he be pleased with him) - The Hadith of the Bird
Volume: (11) - Page Number: (84)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... Another narration: Abu Ya'la said: Al-Hasan ibn Hamad al-Kufi narrated to us, saying: Ibn Abi Utbah narrated to us, from his father, from al-Shaibani
from Jami' ibn Umayr, who said: "I entered with my father upon Aisha, and he asked her about Ali." She replied: "I did not see a man who was dearer to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) than him, nor a woman who was dearer to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) than his wife." This was also narrated by others from the Shia, from Jami' ibn Umayr, similarly.