On polytheism which is the opposite of faith Allah Almighty says...

On polytheism which is the opposite of faith Allah Almighty says: “Surely, Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and He forgives what is besides this to whom He pleases.” (4:16) Therefore, Imam ‘Ali (a.s) is far from associating anything with Allah and all Muslims unanimously agree that Imam ‘Ali (a.s) was a pioneer in faith as compared to other companions of the Holy Prophet (S). He was the first among men who believed in Allah and his messenger.

He never associated anything with Allah even for a moment nor worshipped any idol. He is the one who toppled all the idols from Ka’bah when he put his feet on the Holy Prophet’s shoulders and went up to the roof of Ka’bah. Reporting ibn Maryam on the authority of Imam ‘Ali (a.s), Ahmad ibn Hanbal says: The Messenger of Allah and I went to the sacred Mosque. When we reached Ka’bah the Holy Prophet said: Sit down. I sat down.

He put his feet on my shoulders so that I will raise him to the roof of Ka’bah. As a result of heaviness of prophethood, I was not able to rise up. Finding me in this position, the Holy Prophet (S) took his feet off my shoulders and sat down on the ground. This time, the Holy Prophet ordered me to mount his shoulders. I too obeyed his order. The Holy Prophet raised me in a way I could fly in sky. At that time, I set my foot on the roof of Ka’bah.

I found there the statue of an idol made of copper or lead.[^1] I shook it in a way it was unseated. The Holy Prophet said: Throw is down. I threw it down in a way that it shattered into pieces. Then, I came down from the roof of Ka’bah, leaving the sacred mosque hurriedly along with the Holy Prophet.