other than the Messenger—for he (1) may have some of what he says accepted and some rejected. Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is the sole exception: he must be believed in everything he reports and obeyed in everything he commands. He is the infallible one who (2) “does not speak from his own desire. It is but a revelation revealed.”

He is the one about whom people will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection, as Allah Most High says:

“We will surely question those to whom messengers were sent, and We will surely question the messengers.”

[Surah al-A‘rāf: 6]

It is concerning him that people (3) are tested in their graves. One of them will be asked, “Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet?” He will also be asked, “What do you say about this man who was sent among you?” Allah will then make the believers steadfast with the firm word, and he will reply, “He is Allah’s servant and Messenger. He came to us with clear proofs and guidance, so we believed in him and followed him.” If, instead of the Messenger, he were to name any of the Companions, imams (4), Followers, or scholars, that would not benefit him. No one is tested in his grave concerning any person other than the Messenger.

The point here is that whatever excuse is offered for Ali regarding the matters for which he was criticized, an even stronger (5) excuse may be offered for Uthman. Ali fought for authority, and as a result a great [vast] multitude of people (6) were killed. During his rule, there was neither fighting against the disbelievers nor conquest of their lands, nor did the Muslims experience any increase in prosperity. He also appointed some of his relatives, so appointing relatives was common to both. Uthman’s governors were more obedient than Ali’s governors and further removed from