One of the students of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal narrates:
We were in the presence of Ahmad bin Hanbal when a person asked: O Aba Abdillah! What is your opinion about the hadíth which says that ‘Ali stated: “I am the distributor of hell?”
Ibn Hanbal replied: From what aspect do you doubt its credence? Has it not been related that the Prophet told Ali : **“None will love you but the faithful believer and none will hate you but the hypocrite?” **
We said: Yes.
He asked: Where is the place of the faithful believer?
In paradise, we answered.
He asked: Where is the place of the hypocrite?
In hell, we replied.
He said: Ali is thus the distributor of hell.
(Ref: Abu al-Husayn Muhammad bin Abí Ya‘là, Tabaqat al-Hanàbilah, vol. 1, p. 320, edited by Muhammad Hamid al-Faqí, Cairo, 1952)