ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Invitation to Islam Part 4: Other Islamic Issues Leadership of the Muslims after (S) The Qur'an emphasizes the role and significance of leadership in Islam. Allah states: "And remember the day on which we will call together all human beings with their leaders (imams)."(17:71) Therefore, (S) was very keen on appointing a successor after himself by the command of his Lord. Allah commands the Prophet (S): "O Prophet!

Proclaim what has been revealed to you from your Lord [the succession of Imam 'Ali], for if you do not, you will not have conveyed His message, and Allah will protect you from the people." (5:67) This event has been remembered as the event of Ghadir Khum, which was the name of a place intersecting Makkah and Madina, and occurred when the Prophet (S) was concluding his hajj rites and heading back with 110,000 companions.

When he received the command of Allah, he immediately appointed Imam 'Ali (peace be upon him) as his successor after his death. In approval, the Qur'an says: "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor on you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (5:3) All the companions of the Prophet (S) paid allegiance to Imam 'Ali (peace be upon him) and accepted him as the first caliph after the Holy Prophet (S).

However, only 70 days after this monumental incident, the (S) left this life, and the first setback to his teachings occurred when the Muslims did not honor their allegiance to Allah to accept Imam 'Ali (peace be upon him) as the first caliph. Confusion and disarray overtook the Muslims regarding who should succeed the Prophet (S) as leader of the Muslim community.

In a hasty meeting at Saqifa Bani Sa'ida in Madina, Abu Bakr assumed leadership (632-634), followed by 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (634-644), 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (644-656), and finally 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (656-661). After the khilafa of 'Ali (peace be upon him), two dynasties followed -- the Umayyids and the Abbasids -- before massive political changes overtook the Islamic world. Social Life in Islam Islam places tremendous emphasis on the social aspect of life.

The Islamic practices have not only spiritual dimensions but also social ones.