Also, there can be no comparison in respect of the collective personality of the Prophet’s (UWBP) family, which was represented in the person of ‘Ali (May God be pleased with him), and of the Muhammadan Truth, which was manifested as a total inheritance in that collective personality. For contained in it was the mighty mystery of the Prophet Muhammad himself (Upon whom be blessings and peace).
As for the Caliphate Shi‘a, they can claim no rights before the Sunnis other than shame. For although they say they have tremendous love for ‘Ali (May God be pleased with him), they disparage him, and their creed necessitates accusing him of immorality. For they say that although Abu Bakr the Veracious and ‘Umar were acting unjustly, ‘Ali feigned approval for them; according to Shi’i terminology, he dissimulated. That is, he was frightened of them and behaved hypocritically. [^33] But it is not love to hold that someone who was such a hero of Islam, won the title Lion of Allah, [^34] and was the commander and guide of the faithful, was simulating love for people he did not love out of fear and deception, and was feigning approval for them in fear for more than twenty years, and was following wrongdoers. ‘Ali (May God be pleased with him) would disclaim love that sort.
[^33]: See, al-Rāzī, I‘tiqād Firaq al-Muslimīn wa’l-Mushrikīn, i, 60, 61; Ibn Taymiyya, Minhaj al-Sunna, vi, 320.
[^34]: See, Aḥmad b. ‘Abdullāh al-Ṭabarī, al-Riyād al-Nādira, i, 245; Ẓahā’ir al-‘Uqbā, i, 92.
Thus, the people of truth’s creed in no way disparages ‘Ali, nor levels accusations of immorality at him. It does not attribute cowardice where there was such remarkable courage, but says that if ‘Ali had not considered the Rightly-Guided Caliphs to be right, he would not have recognized them for a minute, nor obeyed them. It means that since he thought them right and preferable, he made over his courage and striving to the way of justice. [^35]
[^35]: Ibn Abi al-Ḥadīd, Sharḥ Nahj al-Balāgha, i, 130-2.
I n S h o r t: Too much or too little of anything is not good. Moderation is the middle way [^36] and has been chosen by the Sunnis. But, alas, Kharijite ideas have infiltrated the Sunnis to an extent; so too addicts of politics and some atheists criticize ‘Ali. They say, God forbid, that he did not understand politics so was not entirely worthy of the Caliphate and could not govern, and because of these unjust accusations, ‘Alawis feel affronted at the Sunnis. Whereas Sunnis hold no principles or basic beliefs that necessitate such ideas. Indeed, they prove the opposite. The Sunnis cannot
[^36]: See, al-Bayhaqī, Shu‘ab al-Īmān, iii, 402; v, 261; al-‘Ajlūnī, Kashf al-Khafā’, i, 470.