It is well known that the testimony of subjects concerning their ruler carries greater weight than his own testimony on his behalf. Allah Most High says:

“And thus We have made you a just community so that you may be witnesses over humanity and the Messenger may be a witness over you.”

[Surah al-Baqarah: 143].

In the two Sahih collections, it is related from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that a funeral procession passed before him, and the people spoke well of the deceased. He said, “It has become certain! It has become certain!” Another funeral procession passed before him, and they spoke ill of the deceased. He again said, “It has become certain! It has become certain!” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what do you mean by saying, ‘It has become certain! It has become certain’?” He replied, “You spoke well of the first deceased person, so I said, ‘Paradise has become certain for him.’ You spoke ill of the other deceased person, so I said, ‘The Fire has become certain for him.’ You are Allah’s witnesses on earth.” (1).

In al-Musnad, it is related that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “Before long, you will know which people belong to Paradise and which belong to the Fire.” They asked, “By what means, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “By whether people speak well or ill of them.” (2).

It is well known that Umar’s subjects spread throughout the East and the West, [and Umar’s subjects were better than Alī’s subjects] (3), while (4) Alī’s subjects formed one part (5) of Umar’s subjects. Yet all of them speak of his justice, asceticism, and governance and hold him in high esteem (6). Generation after generation, the Muslim community has likewise spoken of his justice, asceticism, and governance, and no one is known to have impugned any of this.