Hadith record

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once, Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) accompanied a taxpaying non- Muslim. The taxpaying non-Muslim asked, ‘Where you want to go, O servant of Allah?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘I want to go to al-Kufah.’ The taxpayer’s road changed. Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) kept walking along with him. He asked, ‘Did you not say that you wanted to go to al-Kufah? He said, ‘Yes, that is true.’ The non-Muslim taxpayer said, ‘You have missed the road to al-Kufah.’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, I know that.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Why are you then coming with me when you know the road?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘This is to observe a part of the companionship rights, that is, escorting one gently on their departing each other. This is what our Holy Prophet has instructed us with.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Has he said that?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, that is what he has said.’ The non-Muslim said, ‘It is true that whoever followed him did so because of his noble deeds. I testify that I have accepted your religion. The non-Muslim came back along with Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) and when he recognized him, he became a Muslim.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.