through their supplications, counsel, actions, and any other means that may be drawn [upon] (1) in striving in Allah’s cause.
Eighth: It may be said: [It is] (2) generally known to people of sound judgment that if a commander whom his enemies are targeting and seeking to kill stays in a shelter, a domed tent, a harkāh, or some other structure that conceals him (3), taking only one of his companions with him while the others remain outside that shelter, this companion must be the closest to him, the most loyal to him, and the one who benefits most from him.
Such benefit in striving in Allah’s cause requires courage and steadfastness, not weakness and faintheartedness.
This indicates that al-Siddīq was the most complete of them in faith and striving in Allah’s cause. The best of people are those endowed with faith who strive in Allah’s cause; whoever excels most in these qualities is therefore the best overall.
Allah Most High said:
“Have you made providing water for pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque equal to believing in Allah and the Last Day and striving in the cause of Allah? They are not equal in Allah’s sight,”
up to His words:
“And it is they who are successful.” [Surah al-Tawbah: 19, 20]
These people hold a higher rank with Allah than those devoted to pilgrimage and charity, and al-Siddīq was more complete in these qualities.
As for ‘Alī’s fighting with his own hands, all the other Companions (4) who fought at Badr shared in that. It is not known that ‘Alī fought more than all the Companions at Badr, Uhud, or elsewhere.