Once Amirul Momineen (a) was speaking from the pulpit,when he remarked:
“O people, ask me before you are deprived of me. Ask me about the paths in the skies. More than the path of this I am familiar with the paths of the skies.”
A person arose and inquired: Tell us where Jibraeel is at this moment?
Amirul Momineen (a) looked up to the heavens. Then he glanced at the earth, then to the east and then west. Finally, he glanced at that person and said:
Shaykh, you are Jibraeel!
As soon as he mentioned this, that person assumed the form of a bird and flew out from among the crowd. At that moment the people screamed out: We witness that you are the true successor of Messenger of Allah (s).2
2 Fadhail, Ibne Shazan, Pg. 98; Biharul Anwar, Vol. 39, Pg. 108, Tr.13.