It is narrated from Tawus bin Kaysan that Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): "Are you upon the way and creed of Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him)?" He replied: "I am neither upon his particular way nor upon the way of Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him)." At this Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: "Then whose way and outlook do you follow?" He replied decisively: "I stand upon the religion and way of Muhammad al-Mustafa (peace and blessings be upon him)."
The chain of this report (athar) is sahih (authentic) and good; Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah recorded it in al-Musannaf.
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب الإيمان والتوحيد / 2940
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :إسناده صحيح. » «أخرجه مصنف عبد الرزاق برقم: 20983»