Sunnis and Shias dispute on the issue of who accepted Islam first. Both of them agree that Sayyidah Khadija (ra) accepted Islam first irrespective of gender or age. Sunnis say that among women it was Khadija, among children it was Ali (ra) and among the elder men it was Abu Bakr (ra). There is also an opinion within Sunnis that Zayd bin Haritha (ra) the adopted son of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was the second to accept Islam and not Abu Bakr (ra).

This is not a major issue to dispute upon, but still some Juhala (ignorant people) in both parties create big hype over it.

There are some Sunni narrations which prove that Sayyiduna Ali (ra) was the first to accept Islam after Sayyidah Khadija (RA).

Here are some of them:

Narrated A man from the Ansar, that Zaid bin Al- Arqam said: "The first to accept Islam was 'Ali." 'Amr bin Murrah said: "So I mentioned that to Ibrahim An- Nakha'i, so he rejected that and said: 'The first to accept Islam was Abu Bakr As- Siddiq.'" [Jami’ at- Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3735. Declared Authentic in Salafi version of Dar us Salam]

Note: Zayd bin al- Arqam was a Sahabi whereas Ibrahim an- Nakha’i was Tabi hence saying of Sahabi will supersede.

Ibn 'Abbas said: "The first to perform Salat was 'Ali."[Jami’ at- Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3734. Declared Hasan in Salafi version of Dar us Salam]

This hadith also proves that It was Ali (ra) who accepted Islam first.

حدثنا أبو بكر بن إسحاق أنبأ عبيد بن حاتم الحافظ ثنا محمد بن حاتم المؤدب ثنا سيف بن محمد ثنا سفيان الثوري عن سلمة بن كهيل عن أبي صادق عن الأغر عن سلمان رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أولكم واردا على الحوض أولكم إسلاما علي بن أبي طالب

Translation: Salman (ra) narrates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: The first of you to come to me at the fount will be the “ONE WHO ACCEPTED ISLAM FIRST I.E. ALI BIN ABI TALIB” [Mustadrak al Hakim (3/147, Hadith # 4662). al-Dhahabi did Sukoot over it i.e. considered it authentic. However one narrator i.e. Sayf bin Muhammad is accused of lying therefore we do not have to rely on this hadith]

Next hadith which Imam al- Hakim (rah) narrated is:

أخبرنا أحمد بن جعفر القطعي ثنا عبد الله بن أحمد بن حنبل حدثني أبي ثنا محمد بن جعفر ثنا شعبة عن عمرو بن مرة عن أبي حمزة عن زيد بن أرقم رضي الله عنه قال إن أول من أسلم مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم علي بن أبي طالب رضي الله عنه

هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد وإنما الخلاف في هذا الحرف أن أبا بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه كان أول الرجال البالغين إسلاما وعلي بن أبي طالب تقدم إسلامه قبل البلوغ

Translation: Zaid bin Arqam (ra) said: The first to accept Islam with Prophet was Ali bin Abi Talib (ra). Imam al-Hakim said: This hadith has Sahih chain, however difference is over the matter that Abu Bakr (ra) was first among mature men who accepted Islam and Ali was among first to accept Islam before maturity.[Mustadrak ala Sahihayn with Talkhees (3/147, Hadith ‘# 4663). All narrators of this hadith are reliable. Imam al- Dhahabi called it Sahih]

Hadith regarding Abu Bakr (ra) being first to accept Islam

Abu Bakr said: "Am I not the most deserving of it among the people, am I not the first to become Muslim, am I not the person of such and such, am I not the person of such and such." [Jami’ at- Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3667. Declared Authentic in Salafi version of Dar us Salam]

Marmaduke Pickhtall the great convert and translator of Qur’an states:

The first of all his (Muhammad’s) converts was his wife, Khadija; the second his first cousin Ali, whom he had adopted; the third his servant Zeyd, a former slave. (Introduction to the Translation of Holy Qur’an, Lahore, Pakistan, 1975)

Reconciliation: This is not an important issue to debate upon. According to author Ali (ra) accepting Islam out of all men is the soundest opinion whereas there is difference of opinion on Abu Bakr (ra) or Zaid bin Haritha (ra) being first. Having said that, there is no harm in saying that Khadija was the first woman who accepted Islam, Ali was the first child who accepted Islam, and Abu Bakr was the first grown up man who accepted Islam.