The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

"I did so, then gathered them for him and the Messenger of God (SAAS) did
as he had the previous day. They ate till they were full; I swear, none of them ate
like that ever before! Then the Messenger of God (SAAS) said, 'Give them to
drink, 'Ali!' So I brought them the pot and they drank of it till they were
satiated. I swear, none of them drank like that before!
"When the Messenger of God (SAAS) was about to address them, Abii
Lahab, God damn him! forestalled him by saying, 'Well, what a feast your host
served to you to eat!' So they dispersed without the Messenger of God (SAAS)
addressing them.
"Next day the Messenger of God (SAAS) told me, "Ali, prepare food and
drink for us as you did yesterday. This fellow forestalled me by saying what you
heard before I could address the people.'
"I did so and assembled them again. The Messenger of God (SAAS) acted as
he had the day before. They ate till they were satiated, and then I served them
from the pot until they were full. I swear, I never saw people eat and drink like
that!
"Then the Messenger of God (SAAS) spoke, '0 Family of 'Abd al-Mu~talib,
I know of no Arab man, by God, who brought his people anything better than
I have brought you. I have brought you what deals with this world and the
afterlife as well."'
Al-Bayhaqi related this anecdote in this way through Yiinus b. Bukayr, from
Ihn Ishaq, from a sheikh of uncertain identity, from 'Abd All& b. al-H%ritb.
Abti Jacfar b. Jarir related it from Muhammad b. Humayd al-&i, from
Salama b. al-Fad1 al-Abrash, from Muhammad b. Ishaq, from 'Abd al-Ghaffa
Aba Miryam b. al-@sim, from al-Minhd h. 'Amr, from 'Abd Allah b.
al-Hzrith, from Ihn 'Abbas, from 'Ali. His account is similar but adds after the
words, L'I have brought forth for YOU the good of this world and the next", "And
God has ordered me to call upon you to come to Him. And whoever of you will
aid me in this matter I must consider my brother." And so on.
'Ali continued, "But everyone drew back from that. Since I was the youngest,
had the most bleary eyes, the largest stomach and the shortest legs, I called out,
'0 Prophet of God, I will be your wazir (i.e. your deputy) in this!'
"The Prophet (SAAS) took me by the neck and said, 'This is my brother' and
so on and so forth, 'so listen to him and ohey him!'
'Ali went on, "Everyone began laughing and saying to Aha Tdib, 'He has
ordered you to listen to your son and to ohey him!'"
Ahd al-Ghaffw b. al-Q%im Abn Maryam is the sole authority for this
account, and he was a liar and a sh& whom 'Ali b. al-Madini and others accused
of inventing the had% the other scholars consider hi
a weak source.
But Ibn Aba Hatim related, in his work of exegesis of the Qur'an, from his
father, from al-Husayn b. 'isa b. Maysara al-Haithi, from 'Abd Allah b. 'Abd