The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gathered - or the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called - Banu ‘Abdul-Muttalib, among whom were some people all of whom liked to eat lamb and drink large amounts of water. He made a mudd of food for them, and they ate until they were full. And the food remained as it was, as if it had not been touched. Then he called for a vessel, and they drank until their thirst was quenched, and the drink remained as it was, as if it had not been drunk from. Then he said: ʿO Banu ʿAbdul-Muttalib, I have been sent to you in particular and to all the people in general. You have seen this sign. Which of you will swear allegiance to me, pledging to be my brother and companion?” Not one of them stood up for him, but I [‘Ali] stood up, and I was the youngest of the people. He said: ʿSit down.” He said that three times, and each time I stood up for him and he said to me, ʿSit down.ʿ Then the third time he put his hand on mine.
جَمَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَوْ دَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فِيهِمْ رَهْطٌ كُلُّهُمْ يَأْكُلُ الْجَذَعَةَ وَيَشْرَبُ الْفَرَقَ قَالَ فَصَنَعَ لَهُمْ مُدًّا مِنْ طَعَامٍ فَأَكَلُوا حَتَّى شَبِعُوا قَالَ وَبَقِيَ الطَّعَامُ كَمَا هُوَ كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُمَسَّ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِغُمَرٍ فَشَرِبُوا حَتَّى رَوَوْا وَبَقِيَ الشَّرَابُ كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُمَسَّ أَوْ لَمْ يُشْرَبْ فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ إِنِّي بُعِثْتُ لَكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَإِلَى النَّاسِ بِعَامَّةٍ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ مَا رَأَيْتُمْ فَأَيُّكُمْ يُبَايِعُنِي عَلَى أَنْ يَكُونَ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي؟ قَالَ فَلَمْ يَقُمِ الَيْهِ أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَكُنْتُ أَصْغَرَ الْقَوْمِ قَالَ فَقَالَ اجْلِسْ قَالَ ثَلاثَمَرَّاتٍ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ لِي اجْلِسْ حَتَّى كَانَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى يَدِي