"I had certain times when I used to come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When I came to him I would ask for permission to enter. If I found him praying he would clear his throat and I would enter, and if I found him free he would give me permission (to enter)."  

كَانَ لِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَاعَةٌ آتِيهِ فِيهَا فَإِذَا أَتَيْتُهُ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ إِنْ وَجَدْتُهُ يُصَلِّي فَتَنَحْنَحَ دَخَلْتُ وَإِنْ وَجَدْتُهُ فَارِغًا أَذِنَ لِي  

"I had two times when I would enter upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, one at night and one during the day. When I entered at night he would clear his throat (to tell me to come in)."  

عَلِيٌّ كَانَ لِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَدْخَلاَنِ مَدْخَلٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَدْخَلٌ بِالنَّهَارِ فَكُنْتُ إِذَا دَخَلْتُ بِاللَّيْلِ تَنَحْنَحَ لِي  

"Ali said to me: 'I was so close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, closer than anyone else. I used to come to him at the end of every night, before dawn, and say: "As-salamu 'alayka ya Nabiyy Allah (Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah)." If he cleared his throat I would go back to my family, otherwise I would enter upon him.'"  

لِي عَلِيٌّ كَانَتْ لِي مَنْزِلَةٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمْ تَكُنْ لأَحَدٍ مِنَ الْخَلاَئِقِ فَكُنْتُ آتِيهِ كُلَّ سَحَرٍ فَأَقُولُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَنَحْنَحَ انْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَإِلاَّ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ