Ibn Ubaid says that when Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was in Iraq, the people of Syria were mentioned in his presence. The people said: O Commander of the Faithful! Pray for a curse against them. He replied: No, I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "The Abdal are in Syria, they are forty men in total. Whenever one of them passes away, Allah replaces him with another person (and for this reason they are called Abdal). Because of the blessings of their supplication, rain falls, through their blessings victory is granted over enemies, and because of their blessings, punishment is averted from the people of Syria."