The substitute became palatable once the properly appointed...

The substitute became palatable once the properly appointed authority was passed over, because the ' generation was said to have kept close company with the Prophet, thrived while he lived, embraced his experience, heeded his words and practice.[^11] For all practical purposes, the members of the Household lost their God-given distinction to form part of the intellectual authority merely as .

But the themselves were apt to experience sharp differences and conflicts, which sometimes reached the point of hostilities, with each party drawing the other's blood, impugning his honour, hurling accusations of deviation and betrayal.[^12] These differences and accusations, occurring as they did inside the intellectual leadership and doctrinal authority itself, engendered all manner of…