Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَارَةُ بْنُ الْقَعْقَاعِ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْعُكْلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُجَيٍّ قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ كَانَتْ لِي سَاعَةٌ مِنْ السَّحَرِ أَدْخُلُ فِيهَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِنْ كَانَ قَائِمًا يُصَلِّي سَبَّحَ بِي فَكَانَ ذَاكَ إِذْنُهُ لِي وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلِّي أَذِنَ لِي.
English Translation
Ali said: I had a time during the pre-dawn hours when I would visit the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). If he was standing in prayer, he would clear his throat (say SubhanAllah) to signal me, and that was his permission for me. If he was not praying, he would give me permission to enter.