Sunni Muslims hold Ali in high respect as one of the Ahl al-Bayt, a foremost authority on the Qur'an and Islamic law, and as one of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs. Sunnis consider Ali the fourth and final of the caliphs, unlike Shia Muslims who regard Ali as the first Imam after Muhammad due to their interpretation of the events at Ghadir Khumm.
Sunnis maintain that Ali was among the first males to convert to Islam, when he was 8 years old and he was among the closest companions to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad at the time and to Abu Bakr, Muhammad's closest companion. He is also revered in many hadiths of Muhammad such as the famous hadith: "I am a city of knowledge and Ali is its door" found in the hadith book of Tirmidhi.[1][2][3][4]
Sunnis view Ali as one of the greatest warrior champions of Islam. Examples include taking on the Quraish champion at the Battle of the Trench when nobody else dared.[5] After multiple failed attempts of breaking the fort in the Battle of Khaybar, Ali was summoned, miraculously healed and conquered the fort.[6] [7]
See also
- Shia view of Ali
References
- ^ Al-Durar al-muntatharah fi al-ahadith al-mushtahirah, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH), p. 23
- ^ Al-La'ali al-Masnu`ah, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH), vol. 1, p. 332
- ^ Nawaqid al-Rawafid, Mirza Makhdum `Abbas b. Mu`in al-Din al-Jurjani (d. 988 AH)
- ^ Al-Nibras li kashf al-'iltibas al-waqi` fi al-'asas, Ibrahim b. Hasan al-Kurdi al-Kawrani al-Shafi`i
- ^ SwordOfAllah.com: The Leading Sword of Allah Site on the Net
- ^ Ali bin abi Talib
- ^ Martyrdom of Imam al-Hussain (R.A)