Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

414 'Ali's attitude towards the Kharijites and Shia
the caliphate of Abu Bakr and 'Umar before 'Ali (&). In fact, it
is proven in mutawgtir reports that 'Ali (&) said: "The best of
the people after the Messenger of AUah (&) are Abu Bakr and
mar."^^^ So 'Ali (&) affirmed the superiority of the two
shaykhs (Abu Bakr and 'Umar), even though he was the head of
the family of the Prophet (@)?43
(c) This hadith is like the hadith in which the Prophet (g) said: "I
am leaving behind among you that which, if you adhere to it,
you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and my ~ unnah."~~~
The Prophet also said: "You must adhere to my Sunnah and the
way of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me; hold on firmly to
it,"545
He enjoined clinging firmly to it and said: "Follow the
example of those who come after me: Abu Bakr and mar."^^^
He also said: "Follow the guidance of 'Amm&, and adhere to the
advice of Ibn ~ as'ood."~~~ This does not refer to imamale at all;
rather it indicates that these people were following the guidance
of the Messenger (g). Similarly, the family of the Messenger
can never agree upon misguidance.548
(g)
(d) The RSfidi Shia undennine the status of al-'~bbb?~~ his son
AbduUah and the sons of al-Hasan, by saying that they were
jealous of the sons of al-Husayn. They also undennine the status
of the sons of al-Husayn himself, apart from those who they
claim were Imams, such as Zayd ibn '~li.~~' They also
undermine the status of Ibraeem, the brother of al-Hasan al-
'~skari?~' and others. As such, they are not supporters of the
Prophet (@J and his family; the supporters of the Prophet and
his family are those who praised them and respected their rights,
and did not undermine their
(e) How the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (g)
understood the text. The Companions (4) understood that
what was meant was love, support and obedience. Hence they