The Shi’a Imams Are Appointed by the Prophet Himself We...

The Shi’a Imams Are Appointed by the Prophet Himself We believe that the prophet of Islam appointed all the twelve Imams as his successors, one after the other. In Sahih Muslim (a famous reference book of the Ahlul Sunnah Muslims), we read: "In a place between Mecca and Medina which is named Ghadir Khumm, the prophet made a speech to thousands of Muslims, through which he said: "I am about to leave you for good.

I am leaving two heavy things among you after me: The Holy Qur’an is the first one in which you may find light and guidance; and my nearest kins are the second. I advise you all not to forget God in relation to my Kins.

Not to forget God in relation to My Kins.” The prophet then added: "If you grasp the two heavy things that I leave among you; you will never go astray.” The same tradition is also written in Sahih Tirmidhi (another famous reference book of the Ahlul Sunnah Muslims).[^1] Therefore, no Muslim can deny this tradition which is related by successive witnesses and important writers.

We rely also on another famous tradition which is narrated in Sahih Muslim, Sahih Tirmidhi and Sahih Abi Dawood and other famous books that our prophet has said: "Islam will stand up to the resurrection day and until twelve Imams all of whom are from Quraysh rule over you as my successors.” We believe that there is no acceptable commentaries for such traditions as mentioned above except that belief which is found among our sect, the Shi’a.

Imam ‘Ali's Designation by the Prophet We believe that the prophet, in several occasions has introduced and designated Imam ‘Ali(a.s) as his successor by the decree of God, an instance of which was in the Ghadir Khomm somewhere near Juhfah. When the prophet was returning from his last pilgrimage (Hajj) he made a speech to a great gathering of his companions and followers, saying: "Do I not have priority over your souls? Yes, of course. They all answered.

Then all of you know that, continued the prophet. Of whomever I am the Master, ‘Ali shall be his master.” Here we do not intend to go deep through reasoning to prove our ideas, we also do not intend to insist upon our assertion.

We may only add here that such an important tradition is not something to be ignored easily, or changing what it means, as by taking the ‘Master’=’Mawla’ to mean a friend particularly when we see that the prophet has put so much stress and emphasis upon the word, so as to make it known to all!