In response, it is said (1): There is no doubt—on the basis of the Book, the Sunnah, and consensus—that the distinction Abu Bakr attained through the Emigration was attained by no other Companion. This superiority therefore belongs to him over Umar, Uthman, Ali, and the other Companions; hence, he is the Imam. This is the true proof, containing no falsehood.

Allah says:

“If you do not support him, Allah already supported him when the disbelievers drove him out as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; Allah is indeed with us.’”

[Surah al-Tawbah: 40]

No one other than Abu Bakr ever attained a distinction such as this. By contrast, even if the account of shielding the Prophet with one’s own life were authentic, more than one Companion shielded the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—with his own life. This is obligatory upon every believer and is not among the virtues exclusive to the eminent Companions. Superiority is established only by distinctive qualities, not by qualities shared with others.

This is shown by the fact that no one has related that Ali suffered any harm while spending the night (2) in the Prophet’s bed, whereas others suffered harm while protecting (3) the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—sometimes through beatings, sometimes through wounds, and sometimes through death. Thus, one who sacrificed himself to save him and suffered harm is greater than one who did so but suffered no harm.

The scholars have said: Whatever virtues have been authentically established for Ali are shared virtues in which others participated. This is unlike Abu Bakr al-Siddīq, for many—indeed, most—of his virtues were exclusive to him and shared by no one else. This is discussed at length elsewhere (4).