... and he said, "I have heard Al-Hasan bin Ali say that the people are the masters of their affairs. I said to him, 'O my master, the Arabs are the masters of their affairs.' He said, 'Indeed, the Arabs are the masters of their affairs.' I said, 'I have left them seeking the pleasure of Allah, and their reward is with Him.' Al-Hasan bin Sa'd, from Ali bin Ibrahim Muhammad, from Yazid bin Asad, said: 'I entered upon Al-Hasan bin Ali in Medina, and he was ill. I said to him, "O Abu Muhammad, I have not seen you in such a state." He said, "I was on the verge of death, but I feared that I would die in a state of disunity, and that the people would say that Al-Hasan bin Ali died in a state of disunity." He said, "I have not stayed in this state for more than a few days until I recovered, and I went out to the people and prayed with them. I stood before them and gave a sermon, saying: 'O people, fear Allah, and know that this world is a temporary abode, and the Hereafter is the abode of permanence. So, strive for it, and do not be deceived by this world, for it is a fleeting thing.' He then recited: 'And those who believe and do righteous deeds, We will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein. [It is] the promise of Allah, [an] appointed time.' He said, 'This is the promise of Allah, and He does not break His promise.' He then recited: 'Allah intends to remove [all] impurity from you, O people of the household, and to purify you thoroughly.' He said, 'This verse was revealed concerning us, the people of the household.' He said, 'I bear witness that Ali bin Abi Talib and Abu Bakr and Umar and Uthman were among the best of the Muslims.' Ibn Kathir said, and Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi, who said..."