It was narrated that Qais bin `Ubad said: I said to `Ali: Do you think that this decision of yours to leave (Madinah) is something that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recommended to you to do, or is it something that you decided yourself? He said: why are you asking this question? I said: For the sake of our religion. He said. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not recommend me to do anything with regard to this; rather it is something I decided myself.