al-Khattab and Hafsa heard her father thinking of putting no...

al-Khattab and Hafsa heard her father thinking of putting no one as the caliph after his death, she told him, “If you had a shepherd looking after your sheep and if he had left his duty, you would have regarded him as a waster, so consider people becoming worst.” [^3] While some sheep cannot be left without a shepherd, how could the Messenger of God leave his community without a leader? We believe that 'Ali b.

Abi Talib was the only man among the Prophet's who neither worshipped any idols nor committed any sins in his life during the paganism and Islam.

He was the first man who believed in the Messenger of God (S.A.W.A.) and prayed with him.[^4] From his early childhood, he was continuously with the Messenger of God (S.A.W.A.) and would follow him “like a young camel following in the footprints of its mother”.[^5] He was the most meritorious, the most pious, the most learned, the noblest, the bravest, and the nearest man and kinsfolk to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) among his .

The Messenger of God took him as his brother and God identified him as the soul of the Prophet.[^6] He was one of the Household of the Prophet ( ahl al-bayt ) whom God purified with a thorough purification, ﴾Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification . ﴿ (Q: 33/33).[^7] Thus, the Messenger of God (S.A.W.A) appointed him as his successor and his executor.

He proclaimed it explicitly and implicitly in many cases, therefore we believe him as the immediate successor to the Prophet. God raised the prophets to preach the word of Allah and guide people to the straight path; to establish a government was subordinate. Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) was the Messenger of God whether he was under the pressure and torture of Quraysh in Mecca, or he was the religious and political leader of his community in Medina.

Jesus who was wandering in plains and mountains and did not have a permanent residence was a prophet, as Solomon who ruled a vast and unique kingdom was. 'Ali b. Abi Talib was the immediate successor to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), whether he was in power, or deprived of it. This is the dispute between the Shi'ite and the Sunnite. Now we need an arbiter to make judgment between us, an arbiter whom both of us accept and believe in. Moreover, who is better than God and His apostle?

God says***,*** ﴾O You who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you.