Musnad Ahmad 941:35

Ahmad ibn Abd al-Malik narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Salamah narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Ishaq, from Yazid ibn Abdullah ibn Qusayt, from Muhammad ibn Usamah, from his father, who said: Ja'far, Ali, and Zayd ibn Harithah gathered. Ja'far said, "I am the most beloved of you to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace." Ali said, "I am the most beloved of you to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace." Zayd said, "I am the most beloved of you to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace." They said, "Let us go to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, so that we may ask him." Usamah ibn Zayd said: They came seeking his permission. He said, "Go out and see who these are." I said, "This is Ja'far, Ali, and Zayd." I did not say, "My father." He said, "Give them permission." They entered and said, "Who is the most beloved to you?" He said, "Fatimah." They said, "We are asking you about the men." He said, "As for you, O Ja'far, your creation resembles my creation, and my creation resembles your creation, and you are from me and from my tree. As for you, O Ali, you are my son-in-law and the father of my children, and I am from you and you are from me. As for you, O Zayd, you are my freedman, from me and to me, and the most beloved of the people to me."