Mishkat al-Masabih — Hadith #52246

On the authority of Ibn Abbas, he said: The Quraysh consulted one night in Mecca, and some of them said, “When morning comes, secure it with bonds.” They wanted the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, and he said. Some of them said, “Rather, kill him,” and some of them said, “Rather, expel him.” So God Almighty informed His Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, of that, so it remained. Ali was on the bed of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, that night, and the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, went out until he reached the cave, and the polytheists remained guarding it. Ali, they thought he was the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace. When they got up in the morning, they revolted against him, and when they saw Ali God repelled their deception, so they said, “Where is this companion of yours?” He said, “I do not know.” So they sought out his trace, and when they reached the mountain, they became confused, so they climbed the mountain and passed. In the cave, they saw on its door the web of the spider, and they said, “If he had entered here, the web of the spider would not have been on his door.” So he remained. There are three nights in it. Narrated by Ahmed