including al-Abbās and his sons, his freedman Shuqrān (1), and some of the Ansār. Yet it was Alī (2) who personally performed the washing, while al-Abbās was present in view of his eminent standing, and because Alī was the one most entitled among them to undertake it himself.

The same applies to his statement:

“He was the first of Arabs and non-Arabs alike (3) to pray.”

This contradicts what is well known from Ibn Abbās.

Chapter

As for the report of the Ascension and his statement in it:

“When the angels brought near and the high-ranking angels heard of Alī’s virtues and unique qualities, as well as the Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—(4): ‘Are you not content that your position in relation to me should be like that of Aaron in relation to Moses?’ they yearned for Alī, so Allah (5) created for them an angel in Alī’s likeness.”

The answer is that this (6) is one of the lies fabricated by ignorant people who do not even know how to lie plausibly. The Ascension took place in Mecca before the Emigration, by universal agreement, as Allah Most High said:

“Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We might show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”

[Surah al-Isrā’: 1].