Al-Amālī 1, record 262 of the digital edition

Translation

5. He said: Abu Abdillah Muhammad ibn Dawood al-Hatmi reported to me by way of authorization (to report from him) from Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Sulaiman ibn al-Asha’th, who reported from Ahmad ibn Muhammad Abdan, who reported from Ibrahim al-Harbi, who reported from Saeed ibn Dawood ibn (Abu) Zanbar who said: Malik ibn Anas reported to me from his uncle Abu Suhail ibn Malik, from his father who said: When ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, rose to leave Madinah for Basrah, I was standing with al-Mughairah ibn Sha’bah, when Ammar ibn Yasir, may Allah be pleased with him, approached him and said: "O Mughaira, do you have an intention to do something for Allah, Most High?" He said: "And where is that for me, O Ammar?" He (i.e. Ammar) said: "Join this call (to the war) so that you may be with those who have gone before you, and lead those who are behind you." Al-Mughaira said: "O Abu Yaqdhan (i.e. Ammar), how about something better than that?" Ammar replied: "And what is that?" He (i.e. Mughaira) said: "We enter the (privacy of) our homes and shut our doors, till the dust settles and the situation is clear. Then we come out and see. Let us not be like the one who broke the chain so that he may laugh (happily) and instead, he fell into anguish." Ammar said: "Far from what you expect! Do you want to act ignorant after knowing the truth, and resort to blindness in spite of having discerned? But listen! by Allah, you will not see me, but at the forefront." He said: Then Amirul Mu’mineen, peace be upon him, appeared and he asked: "O Abu Yaqdhan! What does this one-eyed man tell you? Surely, he is always busily engaged in mixing the truth with untruth and misinforms. He has no relation with the religion except in matters, which conform with the worldly gians. Woe unto you, O Mughairah, this calls leads everyone who joins to Paradise." Al-Mughairah said: "You are right, O Amirul Mu’mineen. But if I do not join you, I will never be against you."

Translation: Mulla Asgharali M M Jaffer — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.