To what extent are the hadiths valid that mention the virtues of Ali ibn Abi Talib, which include that the Prophet (peace and blessings be be upon him) asked his Lord to make Ali a minister to him, that Ali asked his Lord to grant him a covenant and affection, and that the Quran consists of four quarters, one quarter of which is about the People of the House (Ahl al-Bayt)?

The aforementioned report was narrated by Ibn al-Maghazili in "Manaqib Ali" with a dark chain of narration (isnad muzlim) tracing back to Shu'ba, and its narrators are unknown (majahil), such as Thabit ibn Anas and his son Al-Husayn, Ahmad ibn Musa al-Harrami, and Abu Ishaq al-Madini. It was also narrated by Furat ibn Ibrahim al-Kufi, a Shi'ite. This report is not known to the Sunnis; rather, it is narrated by the Shi'ites from unknown individuals.

Abu al-Shaykh al-Asbahani also narrated it with a chain of narration that includes Ishaq ibn Bishr al-Kahili, who is a liar and accused of fabricating hadith.

Among the things that indicate its falsity is the phrase: "and untie a knot from my tongue so that they may understand my speech," because the Prophet, peace be upon him, was the most eloquent of people and did not complain of any defect in his tongue, unlike Moses, peace be upon him.

As for what is established in the Sunnah and the interpretation of the verse (إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ وُدًّا - Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection), it is what al-Tirmidhi narrated: that if Allah loves a servant, He calls Gabriel to love him, and then His love descends among the people of the earth. This is general for every righteous believer, and is not specific to Ali or the Ahl al-Bayt.

In conclusion, this hadith has a weak chain of narration and is among the hadiths of the Shi'ites, who are known for their falsehoods.