Question

Al-salāmu ʿalaykum. What is the ruling of a sunnī Muslim who believes that ʿAlī (raḍy Allāhu ʿanhu) was the best companion? Is it permissible to believe that ʿAlī should have been the first caliph? 

Answer

Waʿalaykum al-Salām wa Raḥmat Allāh wa Barakātuh.

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Allah has complete perfection. Allah’s creation, by the mere fact that they are creation, do not. The Prophets are the most perfect of all. And from them, the Seal of the Prophets r is above all. By virtue of the Prophet r, the Companions are the best people after him r and the other Prophets (upon them peace).

In the Qurʾān, Allah says: “We elevated some above others.” (Anʿām, (6):165) And He says: “Allah shall raise the believers among you and those who have knowledge [many, varying] ranks.” (Mujādilah, (58):11) The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Treat people according to their status.”[1] This indicates that there are varying levels of virtue. Also, it instructs us to act on our knowledge of that. Some companions are more virtuous than others.

Ahl al-Sunnah unanimously agreed that Abū Bakr is the most virtuous Companion; after him ʿUmar (Allah be pleased with them all) is the most virtuous. There is a difference among Ahl al-Sunnah regarding ʿUthmān and ʿAlī (Allah be pleased with them both); most believe that ʿUthmān is of greater virtue.[2] Preference, regardless of who it is given to, is a general assessment; thus, some may be more virtuous than others in respect to specific qualities of character or because of specific deeds which they performed.

As for those who preferred ‘Alī over all others, they are guilty of innovation.[3] The erudite scholar, ʿAllāmah Khalid Mahmood (Allah shower him in mercy), said:

Whoever does not believe in the superiority [afḍalīyah] of Abū Bakr is from ahl al-bidʿah [people of innovation] and outside of Ahl al-Sunnah.[4]

This is because they have contravened a standing consensus. Abū Dāwūd included a chapter on giving of preference (i.e., tafdīl) in his book. He cited Sufyān al-Thawrī as saying:

Whoever claims that ‘Alī was more entitled to leadership [wilāyah] than [Abū Bakr or ʿUmar] has [most assuredly] discredited Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, the Muhājirūn, and the Anṣār. I do not think that, with this [belief], any of his actions will ascend to Heaven [to be accepted].[5]

And it is Allah who grants tawfīq.

Shaheer Pathan

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