He also has (1) virtues that he shares with ‘Umar, such as the Prophet’s testimony to his faith and that of ‘Umar, and the hadith in which ‘Alī says:

“I often heard the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—say: ‘Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and I went out; Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and I went in.’” (2)

These also include the hadith concerning his drawing water from the well, the hadith concerning the cow, in which the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—says, “I believe it, as do Abū Bakr and ‘Umar,” (3) and other such reports.

As for the virtues of ‘Alī recorded in the authentic hadith collections, the most authentic reports include the Prophet’s words on the day of Khaybar:

“I shall surely give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love.” (4)

And his words during the expedition to Tabūk:

“Are you not content to stand in relation to me as Aaron stood to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me?” (5)

They also include his inclusion in the mutual invocation of Allah’s curse (6) and beneath the cloak (7), and the Prophet’s words, “You are of me, and I am of you.” (8) None of these, however, contains a distinction unique to him.

There is also the hadith, “None but a believer loves me, and none but a hypocrite hates me.” (9) His virtues further include the previously mentioned hadith concerning the consultative council and ‘Umar’s statement that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—died while pleased with ‘Uthmān, ‘Alī, Talhah, al-Zubayr, Sa‘d and ‘Abd al-Rahmān (10).