He said: Abul Hasan Ali b. Bilal al-Mahlabi reported to me from Abu Ahmad al-Abbas b. al-Fadhl b. Ja'far al-Azadi al-Makki, in Egypt, who reported from Ali b. Saeed Ibn Basheer al-Razi, who reported from Ali b. Abdul Wahid, from Muhammad b. Aban, who reported from Muhammad b. Tamam b. Sabiq, who reported from Amir b. Sayyar, from Abu al-Sabah, from Abu Tamam, from Ka'b al-Habr, who said: Abdullah b. Salaam came to the PROPHET (SAWW) before he had embraced Islam, and said:
"O MESSENGER of ALLAH (SWT)! What appellation does ALI (ASWS) have among you?" The PROPHET (SAWW), peace be upon him and his progeny, said: " ALI (ASWS) is al-Siddiq al-Akbar among us."
Abdullah said: "I testify that there is no god but ALLAH (SWT) and that MUHAMMAD is HIS PROPHET (SAWW). Surely, we have read in Torah: MUHAMMAD is the PROPHET (SAWW) of Mercy and ALI (ASWS) is the upholder of Proof."
(Al-Amali Shaikh Mufeed: The Eleventh Assembly: Hadees No 6)