so how, in light of this, can such an occurrence be taken as proof of Ali’s superiority over any one of us, let alone over Abū Bakr and Umar?!

Yet the Rāfidah (Rejectionists), because of their ignorance, injustice, and remoteness from the path of Allah’s friends, have no noteworthy share in the extraordinary gifts granted to His God-fearing friends. Being bereft of such gifts, whenever they hear of an extraordinary occurrence, they prize it as a penniless person prizes a little money, or a hungry person a morsel of bread.

Were we to recount what we ourselves have directly experienced of this kind—things greater than that occurrence, which people have witnessed—we would have much to relate.

The Rāfidah, because of their extreme ignorance and remoteness from friendship with Allah and fear of Him, have little share in the extraordinary gifts granted to Allah’s friends (1). Thus, when they hear something like this about Ali, they suppose that it can happen only to the best of all people. Yet these extraordinary occurrences—and others greater still—happen to many members of the community of the Prophet Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—who are known to be inferior to Abū Bakr, Umar, Uthmān, and Ali. These people are loyal to all four and love them, giving precedence to those whom Allah and His Messenger have given precedence. This is especially true of those who recognize the worth of the Truthful One and give him precedence, for they are foremost in this community in friendship with Allah and fear of Him.

A discerning person can learn this in several ways (2). One is to read the books compiled about the righteous and the extraordinary gifts granted to Allah’s friends, such as the works of Ibn Abī al-Dunyā, al-Khallāl, al-Lālakā’ī, and others. Accounts of this kind also appear in biographies of the righteous, such as “al-Hilya” (The Ornament) by Abū Nu‘aym, “Safwat (3) al-safwa” (The Choicest of the Choice), and other works.