him and grant him peace—‘What have you left for your family?’ He replied, ‘I have left them Allah and His Messenger.’ I then said, ‘I shall never try to outdo you in anything again.’” Reported by Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, who graded it authentic (1).

These authentic, mass-transmitted, unequivocal texts show that he was among those who spent the most of their wealth on what pleases Allah and His Messenger.

As for Ali, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to provide for him, having taken him into his care from Abū Tālib because of a famine in Mecca. Ali remained poor until he married Fātima, and he was still poor at the time of his marriage. This is well known among both Ahl al-Sunnah and the Shia. He was one of the Prophet’s dependants, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and had nothing to spend. Had he possessed wealth, he would have spent it; but he was being supported, rather than providing support.

The second reason is His statement:

“No one has bestowed on him a favour that must be repaid.” [Surah al-Layl: 19]

This applies to Abū Bakr, not Ali. Abū Bakr owed the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the blessing of faith, in that (2) Allah had guided him through the Prophet. Yet this blessing (3) is not one for which people are to be recompensed. Rather, the Messenger’s reward for it rests with Allah, as the Most High says:

“Say, ‘I ask you for no reward for this, nor am I one of those who pretend.’” [Surah Sād: 86]

And He says:

“Say, ‘Whatever reward I have asked of you is yours. My reward rests only with Allah.’” [Surah Saba’: 47]

The favour for which people are recompensed is a worldly favour. Abū Bakr owed the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, no worldly favour, but rather a religious blessing. Ali, by contrast, owed the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a worldly favour that could be repaid.