Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked about a man who adheres to the sunnah but has doubts about ranking the three above ‘Alī, because of the Prophet’s words to him:

“You are of me, and I am of you”; and his words, “Your position in relation to me is like that of Aaron in relation to Moses”; and his words, “I shall certainly give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger,” and so on; and his words, “For whomever I am an ally, ‘Alī is also an ally. O Allah, be an ally to whoever allies himself with him, and an enemy to whoever is his enemy,” and so on; and his words, “I remind you of Allah regarding my household.”

Also because of the words of Allah, glorified be He, “Then say: Come, let us call our sons and your sons,” to the end of the verse; His words, exalted be He, “Has there come upon man,” to the end of the verse; and His words, “These are two adversaries who have disputed concerning their Lord,” to the end of the verse.

He replied:

First, it must be understood that superiority is established when the person of greater merit is shown to possess distinctive qualities whose like are not found in the person of lesser merit. If the two are otherwise equal and one possesses distinctive qualities not shared by the other, then he is superior. Qualities shared by both, however, do not establish his superiority over the other. Accordingly, the virtues that distinguished al-Siddīq (the Truthful)—may Allah be pleased with him—were not shared with him