I hear some people say, “May Allah be pleased with Ali (may Allah be pleased with him),” while others say, “May Allah honor his face.” What is the difference between the two supplications?

Question:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. You say that you hear some people saying “Imam Ali,” while others say “Imam Ali, may Allah honor his face.” What is the difference between the two supplications?

Answer:
The prescribed practice is to say “May Allah be pleased with him,” just as it is said for his other brothers among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Ali is not singled out with a specific supplication for him, such as “May Allah honor his face.” Rather, one says “May Allah be pleased with him,” just as one says “May Allah be pleased with Abu Bakr,” “May Allah be pleased with ‘Umar,” “May Allah be pleased with ‘Uthman,” “May Allah be pleased with ‘Umar,” and “May Allah be pleased with the Companions.” He is one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and he has virtues and merits, but he is not singled out from his brothers with specific slogans, dhikr, or the like.