Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 295
gave its weight in charity, and ordered that they be given their names
and circumcised.281 They were born at the time of the Messenger of
Allah (B), and he is the one who named them and offered the
sacrifice on their behalf."'
3.6.4. Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthmik
(may Allah be pleased with them)
were held in particular esteem by the Prophet
It is known through mutawstir reports, and it is not hidden
from the common fok or the elite, that Abu Bakr, 'Umar and
'Uthmk (may Allah be pleased with them) were held in high esteem
by the Prophet (a), and they were among the most special of people
to him. He was closest to them, and they were closest to him, and he
had ties to all of them through marriage. He loved them and praised
them. There can only be two cases: either they were righteous, both
outwardly and inwardly, during his lifetime and after his death, or
they were the opposite of that during his lifetime or after his death. If
they were not righteous, despite this closeness to the Prophet (@J,
then one of two things must be trne: either he did not know how they
were, or he hew about it but was turning a blind eye to it. Whatever
the case, this is one of the most serious criticisms against the
Messenger (e), as the poet said: "If you did not know, that is a
calamity; and if you did know, it is even worse."
If they deviated after becoming righteous, then this would
indicate that Allah (B) had let down His Messenger with regard to
the elite of his Ummah and his senior Companions, and with regard
to the promise that his religion would prevail over all others. How
could the senior members of his inner circle become apostates? This
and similar notions are among the most serious criticisms that the
R51dis make against the Messenger of Allah (g). As Imam M%k
and others said: These Rifidis only wanted to undermine the