The voice of Ali rose so high that I thought it must be heard by those outside Mu'awiya’s pavilion, yet neither Mu'awiya, nor 'Amr, nor any of the servants and youths around them heard a thing. Indeed, our horses were upon his [Mu'awiya's] carpet, dunging, urinating, neighing, and bolting—yet Mu'awiya was turning to 'Amr, saying: "You shall do such-and-such, and we shall perform such-and-such," and 'Amr would reply: "No, rather we shall do this and that to him."

We heard it all and said: "O Commander of the Faithful, do You permit us to kill them?" But he said: "Restrain yourself, O Ammar." We remained in that state until Mu'awiya said to 'Amr: "Woe to you, O 'Amr! My soul tells me that Ali has a watching eye among us and a hearing ear for the dialogue we are in." 'Amr said to him: "Are you validating for him what he claims for himself?" He replied: "Indeed, I know of him that which, if I told you, you would say of him what I say."

'Amr said: "Then tell me of it." He said: "O 'Amr, know that I and my father were in the valley (Shi'b) of Ali bin Abi Talib in Mecca, in the house of Suraqa bin 'Abid, and with us was 'Uqba. My father said to Suraqa: 'Would you like a wealth of money?' Suraqa replied: 'I would not dislike that.'