behold, Amir Al-Muminin — Exalted Glory — had entered upon us. They fell prostrate on their faces. He took Malik al-Ashtar by the hand and said: 'Exit.' So, he exited the tent. The people were startled and lined up in rows, each saying: 'This is Amir Al-Muminin 'Ali and this is al-Ashtar,' until he exited the camp. Abu Hurayra said: I asked [Mu'awiya] about his saying: 'Clear Malik al-Ashtar'? He said to me: 'I remember of his story and his sorcery what you would wonder at.' I said: 'I adjure you by Allah to tell me that.' He said to me: 'My father [Abu Sufyan] had offered to whoever kills him [Ali] ten camels, a hundred ewes, two scents of musk, and a riṭl of gold, and he publicized that among the Arabs. One day I was sitting when a man came and said: "I have known that you offered to whoever kills 'Ali such and such." He said to him: "The matter is as was told to you." The Bedouin said: "Give me a firm pledge on what you mentioned and guaranteed." So, he gave him his hand and made a covenant. The Bedouin said: "I want a sharp sword, for I do not trust my sword." My father said to me: "Go with him to the weapon-dome to take a sword as he likes." I went with him and showed him the swords. He took a sword that my father used to carry and trust; he unsheathed it, shook it, and said: "By al-Lat and al-'Uzza, I shall surely strike the head of 'Ali with this sword and I shall bring it out from between his thighs." He had not finished his speech before the dome split open and 'Ali — Exalted Glory — appeared to us. He took the sword from his hands and struck the head of the Bedouin with it, bringing it out from between his thighs; he fell in two halves. I fainted and did not wake until my head was in my father's lap. He said: When he saw my intellect had returned, he said to me: "Woe to you! What befell you and who brought upon you what I see? Inform me." So, I informed him of the news. When I saw Malik al-Ashtar brought as a prisoner, I felt that 'Ali — Exalted Glory — would not leave his hand from Malik because of what I saw of him that day and what he manifested on the Night of Harir.' It is related that he killed seven hundred men that night; they knew the number of the slain by the