Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34265 — The virtues of Ali bin Abi Talib

Asim bin Damrah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: When Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred, Sayyiduna al-Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon in which he said: "O people of Kufah," or he said: "O people of Iraq! There was among you a man who was martyred during the night," or he said: "who died today. The earlier people did not surpass him in knowledge, nor will the later people attain his knowledge. Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent him with an army, Sayyiduna Jibril (peace be upon him) would be on his right and Sayyiduna Mika'il on his left. He would not return until Allah Almighty had granted him victory."