[Chapter commenting on the Rāfidī’s claim that Ali never fled]

(Chapter)

As for his statement:

“He never fled.”

In this respect, he was like Abū Bakr, Umar, Talha, al-Zubayr, and other Companions—may Allah be pleased with them. The claim that he never fled stands on the same footing as the claim that none of these men ever fled. No instance of flight is known for any one (1) of them. If something did occur unbeknownst to others and went unreported, it is equally possible that something involving Ali occurred and went unreported.

The Muslims suffered two defeats: on the Day of Uhud and the Day of Hunayn. Yet there is no report that any of these men fled. Rather, the accounts of the Prophet’s biography and military campaigns state that Abū Bakr and Umar stood firm alongside the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—on the Day of Uhud and the Day of Hunayn, and that they did not flee with those who fled. The falsehood of anyone who reports that they fled on the Day of Hunayn is well known. The one who fled on the Day of Uhud was Uthmān, and Allah pardoned him. As for the reports that Abū Bakr and Umar fled with the standard on the Day of Hunayn, they are fabricated lies invented by liars.

As for his statement:

“He never struck with his sword without cleaving through.”

It is not known whether this is true or false, and we possess no reliable transmitted report concerning it. If someone were to say the same of Khālid, al-Zubayr, al-Barā ibn Mālik, Abū Dujāna, Abū Talha, and men like them—namely, that he never struck with his sword without cleaving through—the assessment would be the same as in Ali’s case. Indeed, it is more likely to be true of men such as Khālid and al-Barā ibn Mālik.

For the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Khālid is one of Allah’s swords, unsheathed by Allah against the polytheists.” (2)

Thus, if it is said of one whom Allah made one of His swords that he never