Reference: Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa – Volume 4, Page 166
al-A’mash said:
I met our Shaykhs – Zirr and Abu Waa.il – and from them was he whom ‘Uthmaan [ibn ‘Affaan] was dearer to him than ‘Alee [ibn Abee Taalib], and from them was he whom ‘Alee was dearer to him than ‘Uthmaan – yet [despite this] they were very friendly and loving toward one another.
