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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ali the Magnificent Chapter Xii: the Caliphate **In the words of Pandit Thakur Parshad ** "It cannot be denied," observes Pandit Thakur Parshad in his famous Judgment dated 20th July 1938 in Suit No. 665 of 1936, (of Jaunpur, U.P. India) that Hazrat Ali was one of those men-who stood by the Prophet all his life in everything he did and wanted to be done.

As I gather from history written by the Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Ali was the Prophet's constant shadow. He was the Boswell of a Johnson in his dealings with the Prophet. Ali can rightly be said to be the chief builder of the Prophet's power (wise in council-chamber and a valiant warrior in the battle-field was he). To his sword had fallen the momentous victories of Khandaq, Ohad, Badr and Khaiber.

But for these, Muhammad's Mission would have perished in its very inception, and the world would have lost a reformation unequalled in man's history. The consolidation of the temporal power of Muhammad by Ali made it possible for the Message of Islam to be delivered in an unbelieving age.

It would thus appear that Ali was the most highly entitled and the best deserved for Succession to the IMAMAT of ISLAM, both on the strength of his family relationship to the Prophet and on the ground of his merits, being the sincerest friend and follower of the Prophet." In the Words of Justice Hidayatullah 1Hidayatullah, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mohammedan Law 16th Edition, page 12 and 13 of the Introduction, says : "The election in fact took place when the household of the Prophet (including Ali) was engaged in obsequies .

.. The election led to the great schism between the Sunnis and the Shias." "At Kerbala Husain died fighting after suffering great privations. The rift between the Sunnis and the Shias (Shian-i-Ali-party of Ali) became very great there after." In the Words of Justice Baburam Verma Justice Baburam Verma-Mohammedan Law-(1968 Edition page 75). 1 "One of the most momentous problems in Islamic history arose as to the right of succession to Muhammed immediately after his death.

The events that followed marked the first division in the Muslim world into the great factions of Sunnis and Shias ... .