I said to Saad bin Malik, "I want to ask you about a hadith, but I am hesitant to ask you about it."He replied, "Do not be hesitant, my nephew. If you know that I have knowledge of something, then ask me about it and do not be in awe of me."I said, "What about the saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to Ali when he left him behind in Medina during the expedition of Tabuk?"Saad said, the Prophet ﷺ left Ali behind in Medina during the expedition of Tabuk, and Ali said, "Messenger of Allah, are you leaving me behind with the women and children?"He replied, "Are you not pleased to be to me in the position that Harun was to Musa?"Ali said, "Yes indeed, Messenger of Allah."Then Ali turned away quickly, as if I can still see the dust of his feet rising. Hammad said, then Ali returned quickly.
حدثنا عفان حدثنا حماد يعني ابن سلمة أنبأنا علي بن زيد
قلت لسعد بن مالك إني أريد أن أسألك عن حديث وأنا أهابك أن أسألك عنه فقال لا تفعل يا ابن أخي إذا علمت أن عندي علما فسلني عنه ولا تهبني قال فقلت قول رسول الله ﷺ لعلي حين خلفه بالمدينة في غزوة تبوك فقال سعد خلف النبي ﷺ عليا بالمدينة في غزوة تبوك فقال يا رسول الله أتخلفني في الخالفة في النساء والصبيان فقال أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى قال بلى يا رسول الله قال فأدبر علي مسرعا كأني أنظر إلى غبار قدميه يسطع وقد قال حماد فرجع علي مسرعا
Its isnad is sahih, and it explains the narration of Muslim 2:236, that Saeed bin Musayab heard it from Amir bin Saad bin Abu Waqqas from his father in a shortened form. Saeed then said, "I wished to confirm it directly with Saad, so I met Saad and told him what Amir had told me." He said, "I heard it myself." I said, "You heard it yourself?" He put his two fingers on his ears and said, "Yes, otherwise let them be deaf." See 1532.Al-khalifah means the woman who stays behind at home.