Islam Guidance

Superiority of Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S) over all others

Some proofs of his superiority from authentic Sunni sources:
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said:"There is no companion concerning who are reported as many merits as Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S)"
-He was the first male Muslim.
The famous Historian, Tabari wrote: “The first three to offer prayers were Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P), Khadija (S.A) and Ali (A.S).”
[History of Tabari, v2, p65]
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) said to his daughter Fatimah (S.A):   "I gave you in marriage to the best in my Ummah, the most knowledgeable amongst them, the best in patience amongst them, and the first Muslim amongst them."
[Kanz al-Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v6, p398]
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-He was chosen as the successor of the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) and the executor of his will, right from the beginning of the prophetic mission.
At the beginning of his mission, the Prophet of Islam said in a speech: (In the Dawat e Zul Asheerah at the residence of Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S)
“Who amongst you shall support me in this matter and be my brother, the executor of my will (wasi), and my successor (caliph)?"
All the listeners, with the exception of Ali, who was the youngest among them, kept silent.
Ali (A.S) responded by saying:  "I will be your helper, O' prophet of God."
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H&H.P) then put his hand on the back of Ali’s neck and said: "This is my brother, executor of my will and successor; therefore, listen to him and obey him."
Those present laughed and kept saying to Abu Talib: "Allah has commanded you to listen to your son, and to obey him!"
[A sahih hadith reported in numerous sunni books including:  The History of Tabari, The History of ibn Asakir, Al-Durr al-Manthoor by suyuti, Al-Mukhtasar, by Abul Fida]
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-He did not neglect the Prophet of Islam during his time of need.
The Great companion of the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P), Ibn Abbas said:
"Ali has four distinctions which no one shares with him: He was the first male who prayed with the Messenger of God. He was the bearer of his banner in every battle and … he was the one who stayed with him at the Battle on the day of Al-Mihras (the Battle of Uhud), and he is the one who washed his blessed body and laid him in his tomb."
[Al-Hakim, in his Al-Mustadrak, Part 3, p.111]
Questions: Why didn’t Abu Bakr and Umar attend the funeral of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P)? And… Why did they run away during the battle of Uhud, leaving Imam Ali (A.S) to defend the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P)?
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-He Resembled the Prophets (P.B.U.H&H.P).
 The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H&H.P) said:   "He who wants to see Noah (A.S) in his determination, Adam (A.S) in his knowledge, Abraham (A.S) in his clemency, Moses (A.S) in his intelligence and Jesus (A.S) in his religious devotion should look at Ali Ibn Abi Talib (A.S)."
[Sunan al-Bayhaqi, Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Tafsir al-Kabir by Fakhruddin al-Razi and others]
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-He was the representative of the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P).
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) said: "Ali is from me and I am from Ali and no one represents me except Ali."
[Sunan ibn Majah, Hadith No.119]
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H&H.P) said to Ali (A.S): "Your position to me is like the position of Aaron to   Moses, except that there shall be no Prophet after me"
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Hadith Number 700. Sahih muslim Book 031, hadith Number 5913]
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-He was the most knowledgeable person after the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P).
The Messenger of Allah said:  "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate; therefore, whoever wishes to attain knowledge, let him enter through the gate."
[Reported in hundreds of Sunni books. Classified authentic by numerous Sunni scholars such as Imam Hajr al Asqalani, imam Tabari, Imam Suyuti and Imamal Hakim]
On many occasions, Umar said about Imam Ali (A.S): "If there was no Ali, Umar would have perished!"
[Fadha'il al-Sahaba by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p647, Hadith 1100. Al-Isti'ab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr al qurtubi, v3, p39; Manaqib, by al-Khawarizmi, p48.Al-Riyadh al Nadhirah, by Muhibbuddin al-Tabari, v2, p194; .Tarikh al-Khulafaa, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p17]
The Quran says:
“...Is He then who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge?” [10:35]
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-He is the leader of the faithful.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) said: "Ali is from me and I am from Ali and he is the guardian of every believer after me"
[Sunan Tirmidhi, volume 2, page 298. Mustadrak al-Hakim, volume 3, page 111. Sawaiq al-Muhriqa, page 122, published in Egypt]
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-He is the criterion between truth and falsehood.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) Said: "Shortly after me, discord and hatred will arise among you, when such a situation arises, go and search out Ali because he can separate the truth from falsehood"
[Kanzul Ummal, volume 2 page 612]
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-His name is written on the Gate of Paradise.
"It is written on the gate of Paradise: `There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and Ali is the Brother of the Messenger of Allah'."
[Al-Awsat by Maharani. Al-Muttafaq wal-Muftaraq By al-Khatib. Kanz al-Ummal. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal page 35, Vol. 5. Ibn `Asakir page 46]

Ahmed ibn Hanbal said: "Ali had many enemies who searched hard to find a fault attributable to him, but they could not, so they brought a man whom Ali had fought and battled with, and praised him because of their hatred towards Ali.”
They could not find flaws in Imam Ali (A.S) so THEY fabricated traditions in favor of his enemies.
These are just a small sample of the merits of Imam Ali (A.S).

Taken from: duas.org

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