Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 39880 — Reports on the caliphate of Ali bin

It is narrated from al-Sha'bi that when Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) went out for the Fajr prayer, Abd al-Rahman bin Muljam and Shabib al-Ashja'i surrounded him. Shabib struck at him but missed, and his sword struck the wall. Then he was hemmed in towards the gates of Kindah, and the people began saying: "Seize the man with the sword!" When Shabib feared being caught, he threw down the sword and entered among the general crowd. As for Abd al-Rahman, he struck Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) on his blessed head with the sword. Then he too was hemmed in towards Bab al-Fil, and Arid or Uwayd al-Hadrami seized him. He caught him and brought him to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "If I die, then if you wish kill him, or let him go; and if I survive, then there will be retaliation."