‘We came up to Abu Abdullah (asws) during the era of Marwaan. He (asws) said: ‘Who are you all?’ So we said, ‘We are from the inhabitants of Al-Kufa’. He (asws) said: ‘There is no city from the cities with more people who love us (asws) than the inhabitants of Al-Kufa, and in particular this group. Allah (azwj), Majestic is His (azwj) Mention, has Guided you to a matter which the people are ignorant of, and you love us (asws) whilst the people hate us (asws), and you have followed us whilst the people oppose us (asws), and you have ratified us (asws) and the people have belied us (asws). So Allah (azwj) has Made you to live our (asws) life and Made you to die our (asws) deaths. I (asws) hereby testify for my (asws) father who (asws) used to say: ‘There is nothing between you all and your seeing of what delights Allah (azwj) has Kept for your eyes and your rejoicing, except for the reaching of your soul to over here’ – and he (asws) gestured by his (asws) hand to his (asws) throat – ‘and Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic has Said in His (azwj) Book: “[13:38] And certainly We sent messengers before you and gave them wives and children”. So we (asws) are the children of the Messenger (saww) of Allah (azwj)’.