answering their calls and relieving their distress. And often the Messenger of Allah—His might was mighty—would call out to him: “Where the reliever of my distress, the fulfiller of my promise, and the payer of my debt.” And in no more than the blink of an eye, he would answer him with readiness and the fulfillment of what he desired.

[74] And it has been reported in the book Al-Qatrah from Salman; Salman al-Farsi said:

“I was among those who frequented the company of Ali—His might was mighty. One day he went out intending [to go to] the garden, so I went with him. He climbed the palm tree to bring down fresh dates (rutab). While he was shaking [the branches] and I was gathering them, I suddenly heard him say: ‘At your service (Labbayk), here I have come.’ He descended, and sorrow was apparent on him. So I said: ‘What is the matter with you, O Abu al-Hasan?’

He said: ‘The army of the Messenger of Allah has been broken, and he is calling me and seeking my help.’

Then he went and entered the house of Fatima—Her might was mighty—and came out, then said: ‘O Salman, place your foot in the place of my foot.’