The Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr was the first successor...

The Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr was the first successor; the Shi‘as believe that ‘Ali was the first rightful successor. When a non-biased scholar studies the declarations of the Prophet (s.a.w.w) as recorded by the Sunni scholars in their commentaries of the Qur’an ( tafsir ), and traditions of the Prophet ( ahadith ), biographies and history, he has to admit that it was the Prophet (s.a.w.w) himself who was the originator of Shi‘ism.

The first open declaration of the prophethood was the very occasion when the first declaration of the caliphate of ‘Ali (a.s) was made. The occasion is known as the “Feast of the Clan”.

The relevant paragraphs are quoted here from the Ta’rikh of at-Tabari: ‘Ali said: “When the verse ‘ And warn thy clan of near kindred **’**[^5] was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w), he called me and ordered me to prepare one sa‘ (about 3 kg.) of food and invite the descendants of ‘Abdu ’l-Muttalib, so that he could talk to them. They were about forty persons, among them his uncles Abu Talib, Hamzah, ‘Abbas and Abu Lahab.

Then the Messenger of Allah delivered a lecture saying: ‘O Sons of ‘Abdu ’l-Muttalib! I know no man in all Arabia who ever brought to his people anything better than which I have brought to you. I have brought to you the good of this world and the hereafter. And Allah (may He be exalted) has commanded me to call you to it.

Who, therefore, among you will help me in this matter, on the condition that he would be my brother, my Wasiy (heir) and my Khalifah (successor) among you?’” ‘Ali continues the narration: “Nobody came forward; so I said (though I was the youngest in age): ‘I, O Prophet of Allah! shall be your helper in this (task).’ So the Prophet put his hand on my neck and said: ‘Verily, he is my brother, my Wasiy (heir) and my Khalifah (successor) among you.

Listen to him and obey him.’ The assembly stood up laughing and telling Abu Talib that Muhammad has ordered him to listen to his son and obey him”.[^6] This was in the beginning. In the last months of his life, the Prophet (s.a.w.w) declared at a place called Khumm, between Mecca and Medinah, that ‘Ali was his successor and master of the Muslims. This event has been recorded by numerous Sunni scholars. Imam Ahmad bin Shu‘ayb an-Nasa’i (d.