عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ بُرَيْدَةَ قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعْثَيْنِ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ عَلَى أَحَدِهِمَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَعَلَى الْآخَرِ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ فَقَالَ إِذَا الْتَقَيْتُمْ فَعَلِيٌّ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَإِنِ افْتَرَقْتُمَا فَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمَا عَلَى جُنْدِهِ قَالَ فَلَقِينَا بَنِي زَيْدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ فَاقْتَتَلْنَا فَظَهَرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَقَتَلْنَا الْمُقَاتِلَةَ وَسَبَيْنَا الذُّرِّيَّةَ فَاصْطَفَى عَلِيٌّ امْرَأَةً مِنَ السَّبْيِ لِنَفْسِهِ قَالَ بُرَيْدَةُ فَكَتَبَ مَعِي خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُخْبِرُهُ بِذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَفَعْتُ الْكِتَابَ فَقُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ فَرَأَيْتُ الْغَضَبَ فِي وَجْهِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا مَكَانُ الْعَائِذِ بَعَثْتَنِي مَعَ رَجُلٍ وَأَمَرْتَنِي أَنْ أُطِيعَهُ فَفَعَلْتُ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَقَعْ فِي عَلِيٍّ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّكُمْ بَعْدِي وَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّكُمْ بَعْدِي
Abdullah bin Buraidah narrates from his father Sayyiduna Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent two detachments towards Yemen. Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) was appointed as the commander of one detachment, and Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) was appointed as the commander of the other. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When you meet together, Ali will be the leader over all the people, and if you are separated, then each of you will be the commander over his own army. Sayyiduna Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that we encountered the tribe of Banu Zayd of the people of Yemen and fought with them. The Muslims prevailed over the polytheists; we killed the fighting men and took the women and children as captives. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) chose one of the captive women for himself. Sayyiduna Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that upon this situation, Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to inform him. I presented myself before the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and handed over that letter to him. When the letter was read before him, I saw signs of anger on the face of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I said: O Messenger of Allah! This is the place of one seeking refuge, meaning I seek forgiveness from you for any disrespect. You sent me under the command of a person and made it obligatory for me to obey him. I only did what I was sent for, meaning I did not make any mistake. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not find fault with Ali in any way. He is from me and I am from him, and after me, he will be your friend. He is from me and I am from him, and after me, he will be your friend.