I heard ʿAlī say, “I am the servant of Allah and the brother of His Messenger; I am the Greatest Ṣiddīq. None will claim this after me but a lying impostor. I prayed with the Messenger of Allah seven years before anyone else.”

Ibn Mājah likewise transmitted this tradition (1) from Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl al-Rāzī, through ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Mūsā al-ʿAbsī (2)—a Shīʿī transmitter found in the Ṣaḥīḥ collections—on the authority of al-ʿAlāʾ ibn Ṣāliḥ al-Azdī al-Kūfī, whom the critics declared reliable. Abū Ḥātim, however, said that he was “among the freedmen inclined to Shīʿism,” while ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī remarked that he narrated objectionable reports. Al-Minhāl ibn ʿAmr is trustworthy, but his own teacher, ʿAbbād ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Asadī al-Kūfī, was deemed weak by ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī, and al-Bukhārī commented, “He is to be examined,” although Ibn Ḥibbān included him among the reliable narrators.

In any event, this ḥadīth is munkar, and ʿAlī—may Allah be pleased with him—would never have uttered such words. How could he have prayed seven years before the rest of humankind? That is altogether inconceivable; Allah knows best.

Others have said that the first member of this community to embrace Islam was Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq. Reconciling the various statements: Khadījah was the first to believe among women—and, in outward chronology, before the men as well; Zayd ibn Ḥārithah was the first of the freedmen; ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib was the first of the youths, for he was below the age of puberty according to the well-known view. These individuals formed the Prophet’s household at that time. The first free, adult man to accept Islam was Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, and his conversion proved more beneficial than that of those mentioned earlier, for he was highly honored, a respected leader of Quraysh, wealthy, and an active caller to Islam—beloved, approachable, and generous with his wealth in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, as will be detailed shortly.

Yūnus related from Ibn Isḥāq (5) that Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq met the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “Muḥammad, is it really true what Quraysh assert—that you have abandoned our gods, disparaged our intellects, and declared our forefathers disbelievers?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, “Yes. I am Allah’s Messenger and His Prophet. He has sent me to convey His message and to call you to Allah in truth. By Allah, it is the truth. I summon you, Abū Bakr, to worship Allah alone without partner, to serve none besides Him, and to join me in obedience to Him.” He then recited the Qur’an to him. Abū Bakr neither confirmed nor denied on the spot, but soon embraced Islam, disbelieved in the idols, cast aside all rivals, and acknowledged the truth of Islam, returning as a believing, affirming man.