He said: Abul Hasan Muhammad b. Muzaffar al-Warraq has reported to me from Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Abu al-Thalj who said al-Husain b. Ayyub had informed from his book, reporting from Muhammad b. Ghalib, from Ali b. al-Hasan, from Abdullah b. Jablah, from Zurayh al-Maharibi, from Abu Hamza al-Thumali who reported from ABU JAFAR MOHAMMAD BIN ALI , peace upon him, who reported from his father, who reported from his grandfather that:
Allah sent Jibraeel to Muhammad, peace be upon him and his progeny, exhorting him to testify the wilayah of Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.) in his lifetime, and to name him Amirul Mo'mineen before his death.
Then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, invited nine leaders (of the groups) and said: "I have invited you so that you may bear witness upon the earth in the name of Allah, whether you stand by it or hide it."
Then he said: "O Abu Bakr, Rise and greet Ali as Amirul Mo'mineen (the Commander of the faithfuls)." He said: "Is this by the order of Allah and His Prophet?" He said: "Yes". So he stood and greeted him as such (i.e. Amirul Mo'mineen).
Then he said: "O Umar, Rise and greet Ali as Amirul Mo'mineen." He said: "Should we name him as Amirul Mo'mineen by the order of Allah and His Prophet?" He said: "Yes". So he rose and greeted him.
Then he turned to Miqdad b. al-Aswad al-Kindi: "Rise and greet Ali as Amirul Mo'mineen." He stood up and greeted him, without repeating what the earlier two had said.
Then he said to Abu Dharr al-Ghifari: "Rise and greet Ali as Amirul Mo'mineen." He stood up and greeted.
Then he asked Hudhaifa al-Yamani: "Rise and greet Amirul Mo'mineen." He stood up and greeted.
The he asked Ammar b. Yasir: "Rise and greet Amirul Mo'mineen." He stoop up and greeted.
Then he asked Buraidah: "Rise and greet Amirul Mo'mineen." Buraidah was the youngest among them, he stood up and greeted.
Then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "I have invited you for this matter, so that you are Allah's witnesses, whether you uphold it or abandon it."
(Ref: Aamali-Shaikh Mufeed : The Second Assembly: Hadees No:7)