Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Volume 6, Book 46, Hadith 3718 (DarusSalam) ⓘ
Narrated Buraidah: that the Messenger of Allah said: "Indeed Allah has ordered me to love four, and He informed me that He loves them." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! Name them for us." He said: "'Ali is among them," saying that three times, "And Abu Dharr, Al-Miqdad, and Salman. And He ordered me to love them, and He informed me that He loves them."
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْفَزَارِيُّ ابْنُ بِنْتِ السُّدِّيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَنِي بِحُبِّ أَرْبَعَةٍ وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّهُمْ " . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سَمِّهِمْ لَنَا . قَالَ " عَلِيٌّ مِنْهُمْ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثًا وَأَبُو ذَرٍّ وَالْمِقْدَادُ وَسَلْمَانُ أَمَرَنِي بِحُبِّهِمْ وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّهُمْ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ شَرِيكٍ .
also referenced under: Hadith 3718 (Reference) & Book 49, Hadith 4084 (In-Book)