and ordeals to which the other members of his household had been subjected, such as his grandfather, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his father, his uncle, and his father’s uncle—may Allah be pleased with them. For Banū Hāshim are the best of Quraysh, Quraysh are the best of the Arabs, and the Arabs are the best of the descendants of Adam. This is authentically reported from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as in his statement in the authentic hadith:

“Allah chose the descendants of Ishmael from among the descendants of Abraham, chose Kinānah from among the descendants of Ishmael, chose Quraysh from Kinānah, chose Banū Hāshim from Quraysh, and chose me from Banū Hāshim.”

Sahīh Muslim also reports that he said on the day of Ghadīr Khumm:

“I remind you of Allah concerning the members of my household. I remind you of Allah concerning the members of my household. I remind you of Allah concerning the members of my household.”

The Sunan collections relate that al-‘Abbās complained to him that some of Quraysh were belittling them. He said:

“By Him in whose hand is my soul, they will not enter Paradise until they love you for Allah’s sake and because of your kinship with me.”

If they are the best of creation, then there is no doubt that their deeds are the best of deeds. The best of them was Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who has no equal among humankind. Thus, a virtuous man among them is superior to every virtuous man from the other tribes of Quraysh and the Arabs—indeed, even from the Children of Israel and others. Moreover, ‘Alī, Hamzah, Ja‘far, and ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Hārith were among the earliest forerunners among the Emigrants. They are therefore superior to those of the second rank from the other tribes. For this reason,