It is narrated from Zayd bin Wahb that a delegation from the people of Basrah came to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), among whom was a Kharijite named al-Ja'd bin Ba'jah. After praising and extolling Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he said: O Ali! Fear Allah, for you are going to die. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "No, rather I will be killed by a blow upon this (head) which will dye this (beard). This is a decree that has been decreed and a covenant that has been made, and whoever fabricates lies has failed." Then he found fault with the clothing of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "If only you wore clothing better than this!" He said: "This clothing of mine keeps me further from arrogance and is more fitting for the Muslims to follow my example."

It is narrated from Hurayth bin Mukhashshi that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred on the morning of the 21st of Ramadan. The narrator says: I heard Sayyiduna al-Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both) delivering a sermon in which he mentioned the virtues of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "He was martyred on the very night in which the Qur'an was revealed, in which Isa (peace be upon him) was raised to the heavens, and in which the soul of Musa (peace be upon him) was taken." The narrator says: Sayyiduna al-Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both) led his funeral prayer.