any of these rulings; rather, in applying that title, they meant that the man in question had a tie of kinship by marriage to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Their mention of this in connection with Muāwiya—may Allah be pleased with him—became widely known, just as it became widely known that he was a scribe of revelation—although others also wrote down the revelation—and that he rode behind the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—although others also rode behind him.

Thus, they do not mention these things because they were exclusive to him. Rather, they mention the ties he had to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—just as, when recounting the virtues of others, they mention things that were not exclusive to them.

An example is the Prophet’s statement to Alī—may Allah be pleased with him:

“I shall certainly give the standard to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love.” (1)

Another is Alī’s statement:

“The unlettered Prophet gave me this solemn assurance: none but a believer will love me, and none but a hypocrite will hate me.” (2)

Another is the Prophet’s statement—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Are you not content to hold the same position in relation to me as Aaron held in relation to Moses, [except that there will be no prophet after me]?” (3)

These matters were not exclusive distinctions of Alī; nevertheless, they were among his virtues and merits by which his excellence is known. Their transmission by the people of the Sunnah became widespread so that they could thereby refute the aspersions of the Kharijites and others who disparaged Alī and declared him an unbeliever or a wrongdoer.