'Abdullah bin Nujayy narrated that his father said:

"Ali said to me: 'I was so close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, closer than anyone else. I used to come to him at the end of every night, before dawn, and say: "As-salamu 'alayka ya Nabiyy Allah (Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah)." If he cleared his throat I would go back to my family, otherwise I would enter upon him.'"

أَخْبَرَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شُرَحْبِيلُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُدْرِكٍ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُجَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي عَلِيٌّ كَانَتْ لِي مَنْزِلَةٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمْ تَكُنْ لأَحَدٍ مِنَ الْخَلاَئِقِ فَكُنْتُ آتِيهِ كُلَّ سَحَرٍ فَأَقُولُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَنَحْنَحَ انْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَإِلاَّ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ .