After the battle, he handed his sword to his respected wife, Hazrat Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), to wash off the blood, and recited the following couplets:

أفاطم هاك السيف غير ذميم     فلست برعديد ولا بلئيم

لعمري لقد أبليت في نصر أحمد     ومرضاة رب بالعباد عليم

O Faatimah! Take this sword, while its wielder is free of any blame, for neither was I a coward, nor did I conduct in a low and disgraceful manner (i.e. I showed full bravery)

By my life, I exerted all my strength in assisting Ahmed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and earning the pleasure of my Rabb who has complete knowledge regarding His servants.

Hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) immediately testified to the great sacrifice that he had made and the great valour and zeal which he had displayed on the battlefield. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to him, “O Ali! Certainly, you have fought well, and my other Sahaabah also fought well on the battlefield, the likes of Hazrat Aasim bin Thaabit, Hazrat Sahl bin Hunaif, Hazrat Haarith bin Simmah and Hazrat Abu Dujaanah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).”

(Majma’uz Zawaa’id #10116-10118 , Mustadrak Haakim #4310 and Makaarim-ul-Akhlaaq #195 )