In the matter of companionship, none compares to Ameerul Momineen – Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). Allah reprimanded all of them, but He has always remembered Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) with goodness.
Therefore the claim of Ahle Tasannun scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani that ALL companions are just is an exaggeration – in reality only Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) deserves to be called just as all other companions have been criticized by Allah.
Ibn Abbas narrates – No verse beginning with يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا was ever revealed but Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) was its chief, its leader and its most noble form.
Most certainly Allah has reprimanded the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but He has never remembered Ali (a.s.) except with goodness.
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- Shawahid al-Tanzeel v 1 p 64, 65 with variation (Ahle Tasannun)
- Tafseer al-Furaat p 49
- Al-Taraif v 1 p 88 with variation
- Behaar al-Anwaar v 35 p 348 with variation
While such reports singling out Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) for praise vis-a-vis others may appear exaggerated to some, they must remember that by virtue of his infallibility, position as self of the Prophet (Nafs-e-Rasool s.a.w.a.), among other virtues, he (a.s.) is at an altogether different level compared to others near Allah.
In the absence of such virtues for his peers and rivals, Ameerul Momineen’s (a.s.) claim to caliphate is indisputable.