This demonstrates Ali’s merit, and there is no dispute about that; but it does not demonstrate that he was the Companion most capable of passing judgment.

As for his statement:

“Knowledge of judicial rulings through inspiration” (1),

this is an error. For if judging through inspiration means that whenever someone is inspired to believe that a person is telling the truth, he rules accordingly on the sole basis of that inspiration, then this (2) is not permissible in the religion of the Muslims.

It is related in the Sahīh from Umm Salama that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“You bring your disputes before me. One of you may be more skillful than another in arguing his case, and I judge only according to what I hear. Therefore, if I award anyone something that rightfully belongs to his brother, let him not take it, for I am only allotting him a piece of the Fire.” (3)

Thus, he stated that he judged on the basis of what he heard, not by inspiration. Had inspiration been a valid means of judgment, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would have had the greatest claim to it, and Allah would have revealed to him which party was in the right. He would then have needed neither evidence nor an admission, and he would not have forbidden anyone to take what had been awarded to him.

When he ruled that the spouses be separated in a case of mutual imprecation, he said:

“If she gives birth to a child with such-and-such features, he is the husband’s; but if she gives birth to a child with such-and-such features, he is the man’s whom she was accused of being with.”

She then gave birth to a child matching the unwelcome description, whereupon he said:

“Were it not for what had already been ordained in the Book of Allah, I would have taken action against her.” (4)