and zakat and pilgrimage, while he equaled Alī in knowledge of jihad(1), these constitute the mainstay of knowledge.

We further find that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—kept Abū Bakr constantly at his side during his gatherings and evening conversations, whether journeying or in residence. Abū Bakr therefore witnessed(2) more of his rulings and legal opinions than Alī did. It necessarily follows that he was more knowledgeable about them. Did any branch(3) of knowledge remain in which Abū Bakr was not either the foremost, whom none could overtake, or an equal participant whom none could surpass? Their claim concerning knowledge was therefore refuted. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

As for hadith transmission and the issuing of legal opinions, Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—lived for only two years and six months after the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He never left Medina except to perform Hajj or Umrah. Nor did people need to turn to him for reports from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—because everyone around him had met the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Yet despite all this, he transmitted from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—one hundred and forty-two hadiths with connected chains, whereas only five hundred and eighty-six hadiths with connected chains were transmitted(4) from Alī, of which approximately fifty are sound. Alī lived for more than thirty years after the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. People therefore met him frequently, and their need for the knowledge he possessed increased because most of the Companions had passed away. People from distant regions also frequently(5) heard hadith from him: once at Siffīn, for years in Kufa, once in Basra, and once