Qays bin Abbad narrates: We were with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Whenever he took part in a battle, or climbed a hill, or descended into a valley, he would say: Subhan Allah! Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth. The narrator says: I said to a man from the Banu Yashkur: Come with us to the Commander of the Believers so that we may ask him about his saying: Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth. The narrator says: We went to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: O Commander of the Believers! We have seen that whenever you take part in a battle, or descend into a low place, or climb a hill, you say: Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth. Did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) give you some special instruction about this? The narrator says: He turned away from us, and we pressed our request upon him. When he saw this, he said: "By Allah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not give me any special instruction, except the same things he (peace and blessings be upon him) enjoined upon the people. But when the people turned against Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and martyred Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), others besides me were worse in their state and in their conduct. Then I saw that I had more right to the rule than all of them, so I took up the rule. Now Allah knows best whether I did right or wrong."
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih, except Ali bin Zayd, who has a poor memory; his hadith has been graded hasan.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الفتن - أعاذنا الله منها / 12065