After the Prophet (S), serious dissensions were created as to succession.

After the Prophet (S), serious dissensions were created as to succession. One party asserted that the Prophet (S) had clearly nominated his successor while the opposite party contended that the Prophet (S) did not nominate anyone and had left the matter of succession in the hands of the Muslims. The nomination of Imam Ali (a.s.) by the Prophet (S), which they had personally witnessed on numerous occasions, was very fresh in the minds of Muslims.

They saw the Prophet (S) nominate Imam Ali (a.s.) from the very first day when he invited the tribe of Quraish to the ‘Feast of Youm ad-Dar (day of warning) ’.[^9] Again, for reciting before the non-Muslims of Mecca the Chapter ‘Bara'a’ which in effect sets out the policy in Islam, Ali (a.s.) was entrusted with the task while the Prophet (S) declared that God had ordained that such an important task could be carried out either by the Prophet (S) himself or by Ali (a.s.) ;[^10] during the confrontation with the Christians of Najran in what is called ‘Mubahala’;…