And this is a merit shared by ʿAlī, Ḥamzah, and ʿUbaydah ibn al-Ḥārith as well; indeed, all those who fought at Badr participate with them in that disputation. Even were we to concede that the verse was revealed about the six duelists (121)(122), that would still not show them to be better than everyone else, for the Prophet ﷺ, al-Ḥasan, al-Ḥusayn, Abū Bakr (123), ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and others (124) are all superior to ʿUbaydah ibn al-Ḥārith by unanimous agreement of Ahl al-Sunnah (125).

Thus the incident is an honor and a virtue for them, yet it is not an exclusive distinction that necessarily renders its possessor superior to others.

As for Sūrat Hal Atā (126) and the claim that it was revealed when they gave charity to a poor man, an orphan, and a captive—some relate that this occurred when Fāṭimah gave away the food of al-Ḥasan ⦗6/b⦘ and al-Ḥusayn—this is false. Sūrat Hal Atā is Meccan by unanimous agreement, whereas the two grandsons were born in Madinah after the Battle of Badr, as all scholars concur. Even if the report were sound (127), it would still not prove that whoever feeds a poor man, an orphan, and a captive thereby becomes the best of the nation and the foremost of the Companions. The verse is general, applying to anyone who performs that deed; it shows that such a person deserves Allah’s reward for this act. Other deeds, however—such as faith in Allah, performing the prescribed prayers on time, and striving in Allah’s cause—are, by unanimous consensus, superior to this particular act (128).

This is the answer to these issues, and Allah, exalted is He, knows best.

Know that anything imagined to indicate a merit for someone other than Abū Bakr (129) is either a fabrication against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or a wording open to multiple meanings that offers no decisive proof. By contrast, the detailed texts concerning Abū Bakr (130) are explicit (131), and they are supported by further evidence from the Quran, consensus, sound reasoning, and clear argumentation. Allah knows best.