Umayr bin Zudi narrates: Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed the people, and they interrupted his sermon. He said: I became weak on the day Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred. Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) set forth a parable for the people: It is like three bulls and a lion that are together in one area. One bull is black, one is red and one is white. Whenever the lion means to attack any one of them, they gather together and hold it off. So the lion says to the black and the red bull: In this area of ours, this white bull is bringing disgrace upon us; so give me the chance to eat it. Your colour is like mine, and my colour is like yours. Then the lion attacks it and eats it. A little later it says to the black bull: In this area of ours, this red bull is bringing disgrace upon us; give me the chance to eat it, for my colour and yours are alike, and your colour and mine are alike. Then it attacks that bull and eats it too. Then it says to the black bull: Now I will eat you. The black bull says: Give me the chance to call out something three times in a loud voice. Then the bull says: I was eaten on the very day the white bull was eaten. Beware! I was eaten on the very day the white bull was eaten. Beware! I was eaten on the very day the white bull was eaten. (Then Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said:) Beware! I became weak on the very day Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred.
Al-Tabarani recorded it. I do not know the narrator named Umayr; the rest of its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih, except Mujalid bin Sa'id, about whom there is disagreement.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الفتن - أعاذنا الله منها / 12066
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير “ (113)»