But these reasons do not prove that what was expected had taken place.

But these reasons do not prove that what was expected had taken place. Had there been any directive by the Prophet concerning this matter? We shall try in the following chapters to answer this question which actually is a combination of two important questions: Had there been among the companions of the Prophet a man who had all the needed qualifications for the leadership including complete knowledge of the interpretation of the Holy Qur'an and the Islamic Law?

Suppose that the man with these qualifications did exist had the Holy Prophet appointed him? We find the answer to these two questions in a number of statements which the Holy Prophet pronounced at various times and places.

‘Ali Is The Gate Of The City Of Knowledge The Holy Prophet informed his followers of the existence of a man who was the treasurer of the knowledge of the Holy Prophet and he declared to them that if they want to reach the knowledge of the Holy Prophet they should take that knowledge from that treasurer. He said (and Ibn Abbas reported): "I am the city of knowledge and ‘Ali is the gate (door) of that city.

Whoever wishes to enter that city he should come through its gate." Or he said; Whoever wants that city should come to the door." Jabir Ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari reported that the Messenger said "I am the city of knowledge and ‘Ali is its gate; whoever wants the knowledge should come to the gate."[^1] This statement shows us that the Messenger had informed the Muslims of two important matters: 1.

That the knowledgeable person whom the nation needs is available and that ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib is that knowledgeable one. If the Muslims want to have the knowledge of the Holy Prophet ‘Ali would be the only way through which they can obtain it. It is the duty of the Muslims to try to reach that knowledge. Thus their quest of ‘Ali's knowledge and his guidance would be of their most important duties. This is because knowledge has to precede the deed.

If we want to have a sound deed it has to be in accordance with the teachings of the Messenger. The continuation of the accord of our deeds with the instructions of the Holy Prophet is dependent on our knowledge of those instructions. The hadiths which indicate that ‘Ali is the gate of the city of knowledge are not the only hadiths which speak of the superiority of ‘Ali's knowledge. There are many other hadiths.