When prophet wanted to speak to them...

When prophet wanted to speak to them, Abu Lahab interrupted him and said "Your host has long since bewitched you." Then they dispersed without the prophet speaking to them. On the following day he said to me "Ali, this man interrupted what I wanted to say so that people dispersed before I could speak to them. Prepare the same food for us as you did yesterday, and invite them here." I did this, and brought them food when he called me.

He did as he had done the other day, and they ate until they could eat no more. Then he said, "Bring the bowl," and they drank until they could drink no more. Then he spoke to them, saying, "Banu Abd al-Muttalib, I don't know of any young man among Arabs who has brought for his people something better than what I have brought to you. I bring the best of this world and the world after, since God has commanded me to summon you to him.

Which of you will aid me in this matter, so that he will be my brother, my executor (Wasi), my successor (Caliph) among you?" They all held back, and even though I was the youngest, I said "I will be your helper, O' prophet of God." He put his hand on the back of my neck and said "This is my brother, my executor (Wasi), my successor (Caliph) among you, so listen to him and obey him." They rose up laughing and saying to Abu Talib, "He has commanded you to obey your son and to obey him!" Sunni References: (1) History of al-Tabari, English version, v6, pp 88-91 (2) History of Ibn Athir, v2, p62 (3) History of Ibn Asakir, v1, p85 (4) Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Hafidh Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, v5, p97 (5) Tafsir al-Khazin, by Ala'uddin al-Shafi'i, v3, p371 (6) Shawahid al-Tanzil, by al-Hasakani, v1, p371 (7) Kanz al-Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v15, p15, pp 100-117 (8) al-Sirah al-Halabiyah, v1, p311 (9) Dala'il al-Nabawiyyah, by al-Baihaqi, v1, pp 428-430 (10) al-Mukhtasar, by Abul Fida, v1, pp 116-117 (11) Life of Muhammad, by Hasan Haykal, p104 (First Arabic Edition only.

In the second edition the last sentence of Prophet is deleted.) (12) Tahdhib al-Athar, v4, pp 62-63. The above tradition was also narrated by important Sunni figures such as Muhammad Ibn Is'haq, Ibn Abu Hatem, and Ibn Mardawayh. It is also recorded by many orientalists including T. Carlyle, E. Gibbon, J. Davenport, and W. Irving. As we see, Prophet ordered people to LISTEN AND FOLLOW ALI even in his first open preach, that is, when he declared his prophethood openly.