Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34272 — The virtues of Ali bin Abi Talib

Jumay' bin Umayr (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I, my mother and my maternal aunt visited Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), and we asked her: "What was the standing of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" She said: "You have asked me about a man who placed his hand on a part of the body of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) where no one else had placed it. His (peace and blessings be upon him) soul departed in his hand, as he passed his hand over his (peace and blessings be upon him) face, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away. It was asked: 'Where will you bury the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?' Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'No piece of the earth is more beloved to Allah than the place in which His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away.' So we buried him (peace and blessings be upon him) in that very place."