and courage of heart, as well as fighting by hand. It has greater need of sound judgment and courage in the heart of a commander whose orders are obeyed than of bodily strength. Abu Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—rank foremost in the forms of jihad other than bodily combat.
Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm (1) said: “We found them arguing that Alī surpassed all the Companions in jihad, in thrusting at the disbelievers, and in striking them, and that jihad is the best of deeds. He said (2): This is an error, for jihad is divided into three categories. The first is calling people to Allah Most High with the tongue.
The second is jihad in wartime through sound judgment and planning.
The third is jihad by hand, through thrusting and striking. We found that in jihad with the tongue, no one after the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—equaled Abu Bakr or Umar.
As for Abu Bakr, the leading Companions embraced Islam at his hands. This is the best of deeds, and Alī had little share in this.
As for Umar, from the day he embraced Islam, Islam gained strength and Allah was worshipped openly (3). This is the greatest form of jihad. These two men stood alone in these two forms of jihad, which have no equal, and Alī had no share in this.
The second category remains: sound judgment and consultation (4). We found that it belonged exclusively to Abu Bakr, and then to Umar.