The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), holds a station of such majesty that countless figures—scholars, jurists, and leaders from both Sunni and Shia traditions—have spoken of his unparalleled virtues. His greatness was not only proclaimed by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) but also acknowledged by companions, successors, and later scholars throughout Islamic history.
Below is a selection of their words about him:
Salman al-Muhammadi
“Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is the very scholar of this earth, the center of trust, and the stronghold of certainty.”
Miqdad ibn al-Aswad al-Kindi
“Never have I seen anyone of such greatness in this household after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). I remain astonished how Quraysh could turn away from such a man of integrity—one who never acted except with justice and equity.”
Sasaah ibn Sawhan
“By God, O Commander of the Faithful, I have never seen anyone with knowledge like yours—knowledge of the Divine essence. God is exalted in your sight, and in the Book of God you are ‘the Great.’ Toward the believers you are ever merciful and kind.”
Ibn Abbas
“Knowledge among people is divided into five parts. Ali (peace be upon him) possesses four of them, while all others share only one. And even in that fifth, he surpasses them all.”
Lady Umm Salama
“By God, Ali (peace be upon him) was upon the truth yesterday, remains upon the truth today, and will always be upon the truth. This is a covenant with him, decreed and affirmed by God.”
Abu Bakr
When Imam Ali (peace be upon him) approached, Abu Bakr said:
“Whoever wishes to see the greatest, the purest, and the closest to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family), let him look upon this face—Ali ibn Abi Talib.”
Aisha
When asked about Imam Ali (peace be upon him), she replied:
“He was the one who placed his hand in the hand of the Prophet and gave his life for him. His very being was a blessing for the Prophet. Indeed, had it been possible, I would have given the whole earth in exchange for him.”
Umar ibn al-Khattab
On his deathbed, Umar said regarding the succession:
“If Ali becomes their leader, he will guide them to the straight path. Truly, he is the most knowledgeable and the best among us.”
Ibn Abi al-Hadid al-Mu‘tazili
“What can I say about a man whom even Jews, Christians, and followers of other faiths revere? Philosophers honor him, kings of Rome and Europe engraved his image upon their coins and within their sanctuaries. His asceticism surpassed all; his spiritual station was unmatched. He never filled his stomach with bread, nor wore fine garments. His life was simplicity, piety, and luminous wisdom.”
Abu al-Hasan al-Masudi (d. 346 AH)
“During his caliphate, Ali (peace be upon him) never wore new clothes nor purchased any goods or food except that he gave part of it away in charity. More than 480 of his sermons have been preserved, all delivered extemporaneously and memorized by generations.”
Umar ibn Abdul Aziz
“In this Ummah, no one has surpassed Ali (peace be upon him) in asceticism and piety after the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family).”
Al-Aqqad
“None of the caliphs equaled him in his renunciation of worldly pleasures and positions. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and Ali (peace be upon him) ate barley bread ground by Lady Fatima (peace be upon her) with her own hands. Ali would tie up the bag of flour. So that nothing unlawful could be mixed with it. saying, “I do not wish anything to enter my body of which I do not know its source.”
These testimonies—spanning companions, scholars, and historians—bear witness to the unique and everlasting stature of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). His name continues to shine across centuries as the embodiment of knowledge, justice, and divine guidance.
