A group of Muslims believe that the\ngreat Prophet (PBUH&HP) had never selected a successor for himself and left\nthe topic of Caliphate for people to decide. The possibility of the Prophet\n(PBUH&HP) not feeling responsible about the successor after him has a\nnumber problems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The result of\nthis possibility would be ignoring one of the fundamentals of Islam and\nMuslims. All Muslims believe that Islam is a comprehensive religion that has\ncovered the various angles of human life, which will eventually lead them\ntowards eternal salvation. Leading the Islamic society with the aim of\nprotecting the religion from weakening and resolving matters among Muslims are\namongst the most important fundamentals. How can the Messenger of Allah not\nhave paid enough attention to this critical matter of choosing a successor,\nleaving his people in uncertainty?! Especially while, as according to history,\neven the caliphs that ruled the Islamic nation after the Prophet (PBUH&HP)\nthought about the future of the nation, and selected a successor for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Furthermore,\nthis possibility is in conflict with the Prophet\u2019 tradition (PBUH&HP).\nThose who have read the history of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) are aware of\nhis immense efforts to develop Islam and gain respect and honor for the Muslims\nthroughout twenty three years. He was a\nman, whom even in his sickness that led to his demise, sent an army to protect\nthe Islamic borders, and had those seeking trouble (fitna) withdraw from\nMedina, and ordered people to join the army.1 \nIn order to prevent people from going astray, he requested paper and pen\nso he can say his final words, so people would not go astray if they practiced\nthem.2 Prophet Muhammad\n(PBUH&HP) was a man, whom whenever\nhe left Medina for participation in a war, he would leave someone in charge to\ntake care of people\u2019s affairs3. Now, when the Prophet (PBUH&HP) did not\nleave without a representative for a few days, how could one accept that he did\nnot leave someone in charge, for when he departs without a return? Did he not\ncare about the future of the Islamic nation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a discussion Ibn Abil Hadid had\nwith Naqib Alavi on the topic of Caliphate and the issue of Saqifa & Shura\n(consultation), he said: \u201cMy heart is unwilling to accept what the companions\nof the Prophet did against the Prophet\u2019s (PBUH&HP) command, as they sinned\nand ignored the clear text of Ghadeer.\u201d Naqib in his response said: \u201cMy heart\nis also unwilling to accept that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) ignored\nhis responsibility and left the Islamic nation to itself without choosing a\nsuccessor to lead after him; especially since whenever he would leave Medina,\nwhile still alive and not too far from Medina, he would choose a successor. So\nhow could he not choose a successor for the Muslims after his death? Nothing\ncan compensate what takes place after death.\u201d5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. This\npossibility is against the commands of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) as he had\nordered the Muslims: \u201cHe who wakes up in the morning and does not think of the\naffairs of the Muslims is not one of us.\u201d6 Considering this narration, can\nanyone say that the Prophet (PBUH&HP) himself did not think about the\nfuture of Muslims?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One might say that the Prophet\n(PBUH&HP) left the issue of Caliphate to the Shura (consultation), so that\nupon agreement people would choose a caliph. If this was really what the\nProphet (PBUH&HP) had intended for leadership, then he should have\nclarified this matter with the Muslims, mentioning a few criteria for the\nselected person to succeed him or identifying those who can select the\nsuccessor for the Prophet (PBUH&HP). \nObviously this did not occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are some of the problems that\none can pose to the claim that the Prophet (PBUH&HP) did not choose a\nsuccessor. This claim poses other\nproblems as well, one of which it is in conflict with the tradition of other\nMessengers for selection of a successor, and another is the sensitivity of the\noverall situation of Muslims during those times, with respect to foreign\nneighbors \u20267 It is therefore, not\nacceptable that the great Prophet (PBUH&HP) intentionally ignored the\nselection of a successor. History has witnessed that Prophet Muhammad\n(PBUH&HP) did indeed complete his duty and select a successor. From the\nstart of his prophethood, the Holy Prophet introduced Imam Ali (PBUH) as his\nsuccessor on many occasions, the height of which took place on the Day of\nGhadir Khum. (PBUH&HP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom the book The Necessity of Ghadir by Ali Asghar Rezvani, with minor changes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roshd Website congratulates all\nMuslims and especially you dear friend<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the 18th of Dhil Hijjah, the\nGreater Eid<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eid al-Ghadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day of Completion of Religion, and the\nAnnouncement of Imam Amir al-Mu\u2019minin, Ali\u2019s (PBUH) as the Master and Leader of\nthe believers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. History of\nthe Caliphs by Suyuti, pg. 82 – Tarikh al-Islam al-kabir. (Major History of\nIslam) by al- Dhahabi, vol, 3, pg. 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Sahih\nBukhari, vol 1, Kitab al\u2019Elm, Baab 39, narration #4 \u2013 Sahih Muslim, vol. 3,\nKitab alwasiyah, Baab 5, narration #6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Tafsir\nal-Qurtobi, vol. 1, pg. 268.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Abajafar\nYahya bin Muhammad al-\u2018Alavi was a scholar in Basrah, Iraq. Ibn Abi alHadid had\na number of discussion and debates with him about the beliefs of Shia which has\nbeen comprehensively authored in Ibn Abi al-Hadid\u2019s book. He recognizes \u2018Alavi\nas a fair and knowledgeable scholar. Comments on Peak of Eloquence, vol. 9, pg.\n248.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Comments on\nPeak of Eloquence, vol. 9, pg. 248.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Mu’jam\nal-Owsat Tabarani, vol 7, pg. 270, narration #7473 — Usool Kaafi, vol. 2, pg.\n131.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. For more on\nthis topic you may refer to \u201cZarurat GHadeer\u201d by Ali Ridhwani or \u201cFourty\nQuestions about Caliphate and Imamate\u201d by Dr. Muhammad Hossein Ghazvini.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A group of Muslims believe that the great Prophet (PBUH&HP) had never selected a successor for himself and left the topic of Caliphate for people to decide. The possibility of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) not feeling responsible about the successor after him has a number problems: 1. The result of this possibility would be ignoring one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63647,28248],"tags":[18418],"class_list":["post-4966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-imam-ali-pbuh","category-occasional-letters","tag-occasion-letters"],"yoast_head":"\n