Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الدِّيلِيُّ عَنْ عُدَيْسَةَ ابْنَةِ أُهْبَانَ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ مَعَ أَبِيهَا فِي مَنْزِلِهِ فَمَرِضَ فَأَفَاقَ مِنْ مَرَضِهِ ذَلِكَ فَقَامَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ بِالْبَصْرَةِ فَأَتَاهُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ حَتَّى قَامَ عَلَى بَابِ حُجْرَتِهِ فَسَلَّمَ وَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الشَّيْخُ السَّلَامَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ يَا أَبَا مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ بِخَيْرٍ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ أَلَا تَخْرُجُ مَعِي إِلَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ فَتُعِينَنِي قَالَ بَلَى إِنْ رَضِيتَ بِمَا أُعْطِيكَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَمَا هُوَ فَقَالَ الشَّيْخُ يَا جَارِيَةُ هَاتِ سَيْفِي فَأَخْرَجَتْ إِلَيْهِ غِمْدًا فَوَضَعَتْهُ فِي حِجْرِهِ فَاسْتَلَّ مِنْهُ طَائِفَةً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ خَلِيلِي عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام وَابْنَ عَمِّكَ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ إِذَا كَانَتْ فِتْنَةٌ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَنْ اتَّخِذْ سَيْفًا مِنْ خَشَبٍ فَهَذَا سَيْفِي فَإِنْ شِئْتَ خَرَجْتُ بِهِ مَعَكَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِيكَ وَلَا فِي سَيْفِكَ فَرَجَعَ مِنْ بَابِ الْحُجْرَةِ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ.
English Translation
'Udaysah bint Uhban ibn Sayfi narrated that she was with her father in his house when he fell ill, then recovered from his illness. Ali ibn Abi Talib was in Basrah and came to him at his house until he stood at the door of his room and greeted him. The old man returned the greeting. Ali said to him: 'How are you, O Abu Muslim?' He said: 'Well.' Ali said: 'Will you not come out with me against these people and help me?' He said: 'Yes, if you accept what I can give you.' Ali said: 'What is it?' The old man said: 'O servant girl, bring me my sword.' She brought him a scabbard and placed it in his lap. He drew part of it out, then raised his head to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: 'My close friend (peace be upon him) and your cousin instructed me that when there is tribulation among the Muslims, I should take a sword of wood. So this is my sword; if you wish, I will go out with it alongside you.' Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'We have no need for you or your sword.' So he turned back from the door of the room and did not enter.