Also similar to it is his saying...

Also similar to it is his saying, peace be upon him and his progeny, "Among you is a man who shall fight for the implementation of the Qur'an just as I have fought for its revelation." Abu Bakr asked: "Am I the one?" He answered: "No." ‘Umar asked likewise, and the Prophet (pbuh) answered: "No, but it is the man who is inside mending the sandal," whereupon ‘Ali came out of the room carrying the Prophet's sandal after having finished mending it.

This hadith is quoted by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad as transmitted by Abu Sa’id, and it is narrated by al-Hakim in his Al-Mustadrak, Abu Ya’li in his Musnad, and by many authors of books of traditions. Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi quotes it from them on page 155 of the sixth volume of his book. [^2]: What weight can a superficial interpretation have if it contradicts the spirit of the entire text? Previous…