Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates concerning this saying of Allah Almighty: (Allah Almighty says:) "And when those who disbelieved were plotting against you to imprison you." Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Quraysh held a consultation one night in Makkah. Someone said: "When morning comes, bind him in fetters and imprison him," meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Someone said: "Kill him." Someone said: "Rather, expel him." Allah Almighty informed His Prophet of this, so Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) spent the night in the bed of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left until he reached the cave. The idolaters spent the whole night guarding Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), thinking that he was the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When morning came and they came to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and saw Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Allah Almighty brought their plot to nothing. They said: "Where is your master?" Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I do not know." Then they set out in search of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When they reached the mountain, the matter became confusing for them. They climbed the mountain and passed by the cave, and there they saw a spider's web over the entrance of the cave. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed there for three nights.
Imam Ahmad and Imam al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, Uthman bin Amr al-Jazari, whom Ibn Hibban declared thiqah (trustworthy) and others declared da'if (weak). The rest of its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب التفسير / 11028
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (12155) اخرجه احمد فى المسند (3251) ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 3241»