It is narrated from Sayyiduna Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent out an army and appointed Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) as their commander. During the journey, something happened with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) such that four companions firmly resolved together that they would mention this matter of his before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Sayyiduna Imran (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Our practice was that when we returned from a journey, we would first present ourselves before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and greet him. So he says: Those four men came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and one of them stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah! Ali did such and such. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned away from him. Then the second man stood up and also said: O Messenger of Allah! Ali did such and such. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also turned away from him. Then the third man stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah! Ali did such and such. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also turned his face away from him. Meanwhile, the fourth man stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah! Ali did such and such. Finally, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards the fourth man, and at that time his blessed face had changed, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Leave Ali, leave Ali. Ali is from me and I am from Ali. After me, he is the friend and companion of every believer.