is authentically established is that ʿAlī had been absent from Khaybar and was not there. He had remained behind the expedition because his eyes were inflamed. He then found it distressing to remain behind while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was away, so he caught up with him. Before ʿAlī arrived, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“I shall certainly give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love. Allah will grant victory at his hands.” (1)

Before then, neither Abū Bakr nor ʿUmar had carried the banner, nor had either of them even approached it. Rather, this is among the lies. This is why ʿUmar said:

“I never desired leadership except on that day. Everyone spent the night hoping that the banner would be given to him. When morning came, the Prophet summoned ʿAlī. He was told (2), ‘His eyes are inflamed.’ ʿAlī came to him, and he spat upon his eyes (3) until they healed; he then gave him the banner.”

ʿAlī was singled out in this way as a reward for coming despite his inflamed eyes. Furthermore, the Prophet’s announcement of this while ʿAlī was not present and no one expected that it would be he was one of his miracles (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, the hadith contains no disparagement whatsoever of Abū Bakr or ʿUmar.

Second: The Prophet’s declaration that ʿAlī loves Allah and His Messenger, and that Allah and His Messenger love him, is true and constitutes a refutation of the Nawāsib (those hostile to ʿAlī). However, the Rāfidīs, who claim that the Companions apostatized after the Prophet’s death, cannot cite this as evidence, because the Kharijites say to them, “He too was among those who apostatized.” Indeed, when he submitted to the arbitration of the two arbiters, they said to him, “You have apostatized from Islam, so return to it.”

Al-Ashʿarī said in his book al-Maqālāt (4): “The Kharijites unanimously agreed that ʿAlī was an unbeliever.” (5)