Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Suhaib, who was the freed slave of Abbas, that Abbas sent me to Hazrat Uthman to call him. He says, I went to him while he was serving breakfast to the people. I called him, so he came and said, "O Abu al-Fadl, may your face be successful." Hazrat Abbas also said, "O Commander of the Faithful, may your face also attain success." Then he said, "As soon as I heard your message, I came; I have only fed the people." Abbas said, "I advise you regarding Ali (may Allah be pleased with him); indeed, he is your cousin, your maternal uncle's son, your brother in faith, a companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with you, and your brother-in-law. I have heard that you intend to stand against Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and his companions. O Commander of the Faithful! Pardon me for this." Hazrat Uthman said, "I accept your statement and your intercession. Indeed, if Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) wishes, there would be none but him, but he refused except to give advice." Then Abbas called Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, "I advise you regarding your cousin, who is your maternal aunt's son, your brother in faith, a companion of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with you, and you have pledged allegiance to him." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "If he ordered me to leave the house, I would surely leave. As for the matter of guidance, that the Book of Allah should not be established, I cannot do that." Muhammad bin Ja'far says, "I have heard this many times and have presented it to them many times."