then none could answer these enemies of ‘Alī except Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamā‘ah, who love all the earliest forerunners in Islam and remain loyal to them.

They would say to them:

The faith, migration, and jihad of Abū Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, Talhah, al-Zubayr, and others like them are established through mass-transmitted reports. Allah’s praise of them and His pleasure with them are established in the Quran, while the Prophet’s praise of them, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, both individually and collectively, is established through authentic hadiths. These include his widely transmitted saying:

“Were I to take an intimate friend from among the people of the earth, I would take Abū Bakr as an intimate friend.”

And his saying:

“Among the nations before you were men who received divine inspiration. If there is anyone such as this in my community, it is ‘Umar.”

And his saying about ‘Uthmān:

“Should I not feel shy before someone before whom the angels feel shy?”

And his words to ‘Alī:

“I shall certainly give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love. Allah will grant victory through him.”

And his saying:

“Every prophet has devoted supporters, and my devoted supporter is al-Zubayr.”

There are other statements of this kind. A Rāfidī, however, cannot establish the case against those enemies who hate ‘Alī as Ahl al-Sunnah can, for they love them all.

If he says, “ ‘Alī’s acceptance of Islam is known through mass-transmitted reports,” his opponent replies, “So too is the acceptance of Islam by Abū Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, Mu‘āwiyah, and others. Yet you impugn either their Islam or their uprightness.”

If he says, “ ‘Alī’s faith is established by the praise of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,” we reply to him:

“These hadiths were transmitted only by the Companions whom you impugn. Those who transmitted accounts of their virtues include Sa‘d ibn Abī