Umair from Usaid Ibne Safwan, a companion of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) that he said:
“On the day Amirul Momineen (a.s.) passed away, Kufa echoed with wails and lamentations and people were horrified like on the day the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) had passed away. A man came weeping and saying: Verily we belong to Allah and Him we shall return. Today the caliphate of the Prophet has been cut off. And he stood at the door of the house where Amirul Momineen (a.s.) lay.
Then he said: May Allah have mercy on you, O Abal Hasan, you were the foremost in Islam, you had the purest faith, the deepest certainty and most feared Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. In comparison to other companions you fulfilled the covenant of the Prophet more. Your excellences are supreme, your precedences are most honorable, your grade is the highest, you were most proximate to the Prophet and most resembling the Prophet in word and behavior and in aims and actions. Your status was lofty and honored. May Allah give you a good reward on behalf of Islam, Muslims and the Prophet. When the companions fell weak you strengthened Islam. When they displayed sloth you showed your initiative. When they left the Prophet alone you rendered help to him. You turned to the clear path of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) when the companions were in confusion. You are the rightful caliph in which there is no doubt, even though the hypocrites may dislike and the sinners may be disheartened.
You established the divine command when the people ignored it. You spoke up the rightful when people hesitated to speak the truth, you walked in the light of Allah when others remained still. If they had followed you they would have received guidance. Among all the people your voice was soft, your sign was strength, your speech was little, your words accurate, your view reliable, your heart most valiant, your certainty most deep, your action, the best and you knew most about the affairs.
By Allah, you are the chief of religion, for the believers you were a kind father and one who cared for his family and its well being. Thus you lifted the burden when others showed weakness and took care of the things that they wasted. And you were caring of that in which they were careless. When they were defeated in fighting, you rekindled the fire. And when they were victims of inferiority complex you encouraged them. When they expressed helplessness you showed determination. If they lagged behind you reached them and through you they used to reach that they could not even imagine.
You were severe on the disbelievers and a cloud of joy and mercy for the believers. By Allah, bounties were released for your sake. And you succeeded in your aim. And you got the first of them. You left the world with your merits, and your proof did not become invalid. You were never discouraged. Your insight never weakened and cowardice never invaded your self.
Your example was like that of a mountain that a fast wind cannot shake and the thunder cannot move. Regarding you the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had said: Even though your body is weak but you are strong in divine legislation. You are humble, proximate to the Almighty, His chosen one, great on the earth, owner of dignity in the view of believers. No one can point out any defect in you. No one can ridicule you. No one can make fun of you. You were very particular in observing the divine limits. The weak and the downtrodden is strong in your view till you don’t restore his rights. And the strong one is lowly in your view till you don’t take away from him the rights of others he had usurped. The far and the near were same for you. Truthfulness and loyalty are your main qualities. Your statements are firm and true. Your command is forbearance and your opinion is knowledge. You found the path. Through you the chastisement was removed. Moderation came in religion because of you. Allah revealed His command even though the disbelievers found it despicable. Through you faith was strengthened and through you Islam and believers became steadfast. You went much beyond that and bore utmost difficulties for the sake of Islam. The tragedy of your demise is severe upon the people. Your tragedy is great for the folks of the heavens and the creatures have been shaken up by your sorrow. Verily we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. By Allah the Muslims can never reach to your level.
You were refuge for the believers and destruction for the disbelievers. May Allah join you with His Prophet and may He not deprive us from the reward of following you. May He guard us from deviation after you. The companions of the Prophet wept upon hearing this discourse. Then they searched for this person but was nowhere to be found.”