The ability to conduct wars to the standard set by the Prophet (P)...

The ability to conduct wars to the standard set by the Prophet (P), that is, with their initiation and promulgation only in strict accordance with the principles of justice, equity and good conscience, and in keeping with the behests of the QUR'AN, never being undertaken with the intention of extending the limits of the realm, obtaining booty, or keeping the armies occupied abroad in order to avoid their mischief at home. The desire to extend the limits of Islam by means of peaceful persuasion.

Submission to the laws of Islam without any attempt to amend or cancel them. It must also be noted that the Prophet's opinion about him is also an asset which must count. I now proceed to judge all these personages according to the standards set down above. It is a painful task, as comparisons are said to be odious. But in the case of leaders, comparison is unavoidable. SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT: Criterion No.

1: Freedom from Idolatry: It is a fact that Muhammad (P) never for a single moment worshipped any idol. Similarly, all historians are unanimous in saying that Imam Ali did not for a single minute worship any idol. ABU BAKR accepted Islam at the age of thirty-nine and UMAR at the age of thirty-five. Before that, they had both been worshipping the idols like other QURAISH individuals. When an infant of four or five years.

Imam Ali was taken away from his parents by Muhammad (P), with whom he lived thereafter. His education and upbringing under Muhammad's very eyes was an asset for Imam Ali. Muhammad, even before the revelation, had never worshipped the idols. It was but natural for Imam Ali to follow him in not polluting himself with the filth of idolatry. He was ten years of age when he accepted Muhammad's mission, though in manner of speaking he had been Muslim before that.

In contrast, UMAR'S family was noted for its staunch support of paganism. When five persons from QURAISH, namely ZAID, QAIS, WARQA, ABDALLAH IBN JAHSH, and UTHMAN IBN HUWAIRI (not UTHMAN, the caliph) became disgusted with idolatry and decided to abjure it, even before the advent of Muhammad (P), AL-KHATTAB came down very hard on ZAID for this. (ZAID was UMAR'S first cousin, his father AMR being the brother of UMAR'S father AL-KHATTAB).

ZAID had intended to go to different lands in search of the genuine religion of IBRAHIM, but AL-KHATTAB had asked SAFIYYA, ZAID'S wife, to let him know when ZAID planned to go off.