these major sins is one of us. Thus every believer whose faith is complete is of the Prophet, and the Prophet is of him. Likewise are his words concerning Hamza’s daughter:
“You are of me, and I am of you.”
His words to Zayd, “You are our brother and our client,” are not exclusive to Zayd; rather, all his clients are likewise.
Similarly, his words, “I shall certainly give the banner…” constitute the most authentic hadith narrated concerning ‘Alī’s virtues. Some liars added that Abū Bakr and ‘Umar had taken the banner and then fled. Yet an authentic report records that ‘Umar said, “I never desired command except on that day.” This hadith therefore refutes those hostile to ‘Alī who disparage him. Nevertheless, this is not a distinction unique to him: every believer whose faith is complete loves Allah and His Messenger, and is loved by Allah and His Messenger. Allah Most High said:
“Allah will bring forth a people He will love and who will love Him.”
These were the people who fought the apostates, and their leader was Abū Bakr. An authentic report also relates that he was asked, “Whom do you love most?” He replied, “‘Ā’isha.” The questioner asked, “And among men?” He replied, “Her father.” This was a distinction unique to him.
As for his words:
“Are you not content to stand in relation to me as Aaron stood in relation to Moses?”
He said this during the expedition to Tabūk, when he appointed ‘Alī as his deputy in Medina. It was alleged that he had left him behind because he disliked him. Whenever the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—went on a military expedition, he would appoint a man from his community as his deputy, while able-bodied believers remained in Medina. On the expedition to Tabūk, however, he gave no one permission to remain behind; no one stayed except someone with a valid excuse or someone acting disobediently. Thus this deputation carried little weight, and the hypocrites used it to disparage him. He therefore explained to him: “I did not appoint you as my deputy because I consider you deficient. Moses appointed Aaron as his deputy, although Aaron shared his prophetic mission. Are you not content with that?” It is well known that he had appointed others as deputies before him, and that they stood in this same