The very wordings of his sermon on the occasion of the...

The very wordings of his sermon on the occasion of the wedding of the Holy Prophet with Lady Khadija, his commanding his son Ali to abide by the Holy Prophet's faith, and his suffering the historic privation known as the Sheb al-Abu Talib for the sake of the Holy Prophet and his faith and the Holy Prophet declaring the year of Abu-Talib's death as the 'Aamul- Huzn' i.e., the Year of Grief, is sufficient to indicate as to what Abu Talib was, at heart.

The similitude of Abu-Talib is the similitude of 'Ezkeil' the ‘ Momine Aale Firaun' the Believer of the people of Pharaoh. Thus Abu Talib was the 'Momine -Quraysh' the Believer among the Quraysh. The Logical Identification of an Imam The all-merciful Lord has not spared any point of guidance, necessary to lead man to the right path.

The Gracious Lord has mercifully promised guidance to every one who sincerely seeks it: “(What!) Is he then who leadeth to the Truth more worth to be followed, or he who findeth not the way unless he is guided (by some one else)? What is the matter with you? How do ye judge?

10:33 '(What!) Is then, he who goeth prone upon his face, better guided or he who walketh upright on the straight path?” (67:21) The above verses of the Holy Qur'an give the clearest indication that only the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt, who never had any education from any mortal in the world and yet were the fountain- heads of learning and knowledge, are those who could be the 'Imams' or guides or the leaders for mankind.

Only about Ali, the Holy Prophet had said: “I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its Gate.” “I am the City of 'Hikmat' (Wisdom) and Ali is its Gate.” “The Truth is with Ali and Ali is with Truth.” It is needless to stress much upon the position of Ali in the divinely gifted knowledge, for the Muslim world as a whole knows it that there is none to match Ali in this regard besides the Holy Prophet.

There are innumerable sayings of the Hoy Prophet about Ali's unique position as the 'Imam' immediately succeeding him.