Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Jumai’ bin Umair (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that I, my mother, and my maternal aunt went to the service of Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). We asked her: What was the status of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) in the sight of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? She (may Allah be pleased with her) replied: You have asked me about a man who placed his hand on the body of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a place where no one else had placed it. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away while his soul was taken in those hands, and he (Ali) wiped his hand over the face of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and he (the Prophet) passed away. It was asked: Where will you bury the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? So Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: There is no piece of land more beloved to Allah than the part in which this Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away. Therefore, we buried him (peace and blessings be upon him) at that very place.