Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Abdullah bin Naji narrates from his father that he was walking with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) carrying a vessel of water for purification. When they reached the place of Nainawa on their way to Siffin, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) called out: "Abu Abdullah! Stop, stop by the bank of the Euphrates River." I said: "What is here?" He said: "One day I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his eyes were filled with tears. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Has someone angered you? Why are your eyes shedding tears?' The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'Before you arrived, Jibreel (Gabriel) had just left me. He informed me that Husayn will be killed by the bank of the Euphrates River.' The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'Then he said, "Shall I let you smell the fragrance of its soil?" I said: "Yes." So he stretched out his hand, took a handful of soil, and gave it to me. I could not control myself and began to weep.'"