It was therefore the prerogative of the Prophet to designate...

It was therefore the prerogative of the Prophet to designate his successor and of the Imam in each age to select and appoint leaders. If however a claimant to the Imamate was able to demonstrate ability to communicate with the unseen and to display inerrancy in his exercise of leadership in a fashion akin to the miraculous powers of the prophets then his claim might legitimately be accepted.

There are the methods proposed by the Shi'ah for recognizing and gaining access to the Imam; they form a set of criteria that prevented the true leader of the Muslims in each age from remaining unrecognized. The other approach to the matter is in stark contrast to that of the Shi'ah.

Because there was a certain vagueness and ambiguity surrounding the consultative principle in its application to the question of leadership from the very beginning the Sunni community resorted to a variety of methods for selecting and designating the caliph so that in practice the following elements came to play an important role. 1: Consensus (ijma').

The Sunnis say that the choice of caliph rests first and foremost on selection by the community so that if the ummah elects a given individual as its leader he ( 229 ) must be accepted as such and his commands must be obeyed. As proof of this they cite the method followed by the of the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and his family after his death.

Gathered together at the Saqifah to select a caliph a majority decided upon Abu Bakr and swore allegiance to him so that thereby he was recognized by consensus as successor to the Prophet without any objection being raised. This constitutes one method for designating a caliph. 2: The second method consists of consultation and the exchange of views among the prominent members of the Muslim community.

Once they agree among themselves on the choice of a leader for the community his caliphate becomes legitimate and it is incumbent on everyone to obey him. This is the method that was adopted by the second caliph.

When 'Umar was about to die lie nominated six people as candidates for the caliphate and told them to select one of their own number as leader of the Muslim community by discussing the matter among themselves for not more than six days; if four or five people were able to reach an agreement the opponent were to be disregarded. A six-man assembly was accordingly convened and after the necessary deliberations the caliphate was awarded to 'Uthman.