Abu Aswad Du’ali narrates: Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned this when I put my foot in the stirrup—I intended to go to Iraq—so Abdullah bin Salam said to me: Do not go to the people of Iraq, because if you go to them, the edge of the sword may strike you as well. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! The same thing was also said to me by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Abu Aswad says: I thought to myself, I have never seen anyone like him on a day like today—someone who is a warrior and yet speaks to people in the manner that he does (he meant Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him).