If it is the right of only some specified individuals, what is the reason for it?

If it is the right of only some specified individuals, what is the reason for it? What is so special about this group? Is the right of selecting the Caliph with only with Abu Bakr, Umar and Abu Ubaidah and other Helpers ( Ansar ) who were present at Saqifah?

Can the Caliphate of Saqifah be proved correct in spite of opposition from great like Imam ‘Ali (a) and other members of Bani Hashim; Saad ibn Ubadah and his sons, Salman Farsi, Abu Zar Ghiffari, Miqdad ibn Aswad, Ammar ibn Yasir, Zubair ibn Awwam, Khalid ibn Saeed and Huzaifah ibn Yamani and Buraira? Is it correct to consider the Caliphate legal in spite of opposition of so many great personalities?

If the right of selecting a Caliph is given to Muslims, would they select the best personality in spite of having tribal conflicts between them? The Prophet knew about conflicts between different tribes. Did he leave the matter of Caliphate to the people to increase conflicts? If this right is given to people, would the selection be through written or oral votes? If it is necessary to have written votes, how many such people were present who were completely illiterate?

Then how could this method be implemented? Would it be necessary to install polling booths in every city and town? Or some other method will be adopted? Will the candidates be allowed to canvass for themselves? How will this election be implemented? How much time is needed to conduct this election? Who will have the charge of religious matters between the time when the prophet passes away and the election of a Caliph? The answers to above questions are absolutely necessary.

Proofs of ‘Ali’s Caliphate The Group of Muslims, which believes that Caliphate and Imamate is from Allah, has a strong and clear proof regarding it. They say that the Prophet intended to perform Hajj in 10th A.H. and announced it in entire Arabia. Muslims from all the parts of the peninsula gathered for this Hajj, which was also called the Farewell Hajj.

The Prophet was returning to Medina after performing all the rituals of Hajj when he reached a place called Ghadeer Khumm near Johfa; which is at the crossroads to Egypt and Iraq. Almighty Allah revealed the following verse on the Prophet at this place: «يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ.» O Apostle!

✦ ✦ ✦