Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 14940

Qays bin Abi Hazim narrates: Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said: He recited the Qur'an, became acquainted with its ambiguous verses, treated as lawful what it made lawful and treated as unlawful what it made unlawful. He was asked about Sayyiduna Ammar (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said: He is a believer who forgets; when he is reminded, he remembers; and his state is that from the parting of his hair to his ankles he is filled with faith. He was asked about Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said: He is the most knowledgeable of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah about the hypocrites; he asked about them and was told about them. The people said: Tell us about Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: He attained the knowledge of the earlier ones and also attained the knowledge of the later ones; he is an ocean whose water cannot be drained, and he is one of us, the Ahl al-Bayt. The people said: Tell us about Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: He holds a knowledge (perhaps meaning his asceticism) which people have neglected. The people said: Tell us about yourself. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: What do you intend? When I remained silent, I was told first, and when I asked for something, I was given it; and within me there is abundant knowledge.
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, Ali bin Abis, who is da'if (weak).