Imaamat

Appointment of Leadership – An intellectual necessity

The purpose of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) was to bring a final and complete
message of Allah in the form a religion with a complete book of guidance. Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P) is well known intellectual being in his contemporary period and for
future generations. Through his tireless effort, while bearing all the hardships, he managed
to establish the foundations of a system based on a divine book. However, this new system
was still in infancy, in need of protection from deviation & destruction as well as nurturing
and flourishing. It would be injustice to believe that a highly intellectual being such as
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) failed to recognise above mentioned problems and needs of
the new system. Even if the system is established, it is the intellectual duty of the owner of
system to select or appoint a successor so that his efforts are not lost in vain and a
continuity is established.
God forbid, even if Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) failed to complete his mission, it
is impossible to comprehend that Allah, the All Knowing, in His Wisdom, also left this great
intellectual blackhole in the mission He created. It is also against the justice system of the
God.
It is pertinent to note that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) did not leave any written
or verbal instruction regarding constituting a council or shoora or a democratic way of
selecting a leader after his demise. Books of Hadith also do not mention any proscribed
method of choosing a leader.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) applied the method chosen by God when appointing
Prophet Adam (as) as His khalifah on earth i.e. most knowledgeable. So, he mentioned and
declared Imam Ali (as) as his chosen leader after his demise in different gatherings and
sermons.
SHOORA – was a consultative council comprising of companions to choose the
political leader. This was contrary to tribal leadership (most powerful) system in Arabs. If
shoora was a new system adopted in Islam then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) is expected
to narrate its rules, regulations and bylaws. If Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) did not
mention any of these in his lifetime then shoora could be considered a false innovation in
order to gain a political position.
IJMAA – it is argued that the process of selecting leader in sadeefa was through
complete consensus. Ijmaaa by definition means agreement of all. As a counter argument,
all were not present in saqeefa as Imam Ali, Ibn Abbas were busy with funeral
arrangements. Also, history tells that there was no consensus among those present in
saqeefa rather a brawl broke among the participants. Some argue that ijmaa meant as a
consensus of scholar companions but how the list of scholar companion would be complete
without Imam Ali (as), Ibn Abbas etc. If an argument of earlier companion ijmaa is
considered, then why Imam Ali (as) was not included in it.
It is quite naïve and insulting for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) to believe that
companions had the wisdom to foresee a leadership vacuum after the death of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P) and hence rushed to select a leader in saqeefah while Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P) could not foresee such vacuum and neither mentioned any method
of deputy selection nor selected a deputy in his life time for Muslims before his demise.
At Saqeefah meeting, there were no mentions of any system told by Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P) in the arguments by any sahaba in the gathering. There was no ijmaa
or democracy, rather threat of war from Umar to Ansaar and hence Abu Bakr was appointed
by force.
Muslims were left without written evidence of appointment of Imam Ali (as) as
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) was prevented from writing instructions for Muslims by
Umar who said; no leave him, he is hallucinating. This was called ‘Calamity of Thursday’ by
Ibn Abbas.
Arguments against Abu Bakr – he was removed from leading prayer by Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P) even when he was ill. On the order of Allah, Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH&P) recalled Abu Bakr and sent Imam Ali (as) with Surah Bara’a to people of Yemen.

Arguments for Imamat in Ahlul-bayt

1. Appointed imams are infallible

2. Imams are a positive force against constant negative force from Shaytan
3. The legislation got completed at the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) and
required integrity & maintenance, protection from deviation & innovations as well as
legislative guidance with technological advancements. This was only possible if an
infallible Imam is selected and appointed on the command of Allah by Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P).
4. Correct interpretation of Quran is not possible without an infallible person.
5. The imams carried forward the correct sunna of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P).
6. The Imams were the reason for the survival of pure form of Islam. They bore a real
hardship in doing that which includes patience of Imam Ali (as), peace treaty of
Imam Hassan (as), martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) along with his tragedies faced by
his family, imprisonment of Musa Kazim (as) and Imam Ali Raza (as) and awaiting of
Imam Mahdi (as).

Differences between two school of thoughts in Islam

The Ahlulbayt school of thought believe that the Imaamat is a divine appointment and must
be followed. It is one of the principals of religion.
The companion school of thought believe that the leadership following demise of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P) are chosen by people of the time.

Occultation

The occultation of the divine Imam has taken place as people abandoned the command of
Allah i.e. to follow divinely appointed leader. When the people truly ask for and be ready to
follow the divinely appointed leader, occultation will end InshAllah.
Consensus on Imam Ali (as)

Imam Ali (as) was the only person who claimed authority as leader after demise of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&P) and refused to accept the authority of companions (Sermon of
Shaqshaqiah).
Concerning the consensus on other companions, it was a consistent method of choosing
them. First method was Ijamaa, second time it was appointment, third time it was shoora.
These methods are not known or told in any legislation of Islam by Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH&P).
If Ijmaa was properly applied then none other than Imam Ali (as) was fit for the leadership
considering his knowledge, truthfulness and being most learned.

Is Quran Sufficient as Hadeeth?

Imamate is essential after demise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) as hadeeth could be

fabricated. Besides hadeeth require authentication.
The two things left by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) should be either infallible (Imams) or
protected by God from any fabrication (Quran).
The interpretation of Quran should be by infallible person to prevent any fabrications so
Quran alone cannot be sufficient for us.

Calamity of Thursday

Ibn e Abbas narrates the pen and paper event when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) asked
to write his will for the Ummah so it may not go astray, Umar said; no leave him, he is
hallucinating’. Thus, ummah was deprived of vital guidance after his demise.

Democracy & Khilafat

Imam Ali (as) sermon of shaqshaqiyyah is the summary of events in saqeefah.

In saqeefah some argue ijmaa was the basis of selection which is misleading as all the
representatives were not present. Some argue it was democracy, but Umar used
threatening statements due to which Ansaars backed of dismantling the democratic rights
of others. Only minority numbers among the shoora gave allegiance to Abu Bakr except the
Umar nominated him forcefully.
Therefore, all principles of democracy were sabotaged at Saqeefah.

Questions on suggesting conspiracy

1. Why Umar only told Abu Bakr about gathering in Saqeefah?

2. Why Umar and Abu Bakr were not happy to go war under leadership of Osama Son
of Zayd
3. Why each three Umar, Abu bakr and Abu Obeidah supported and backed each other
for Khilafat? This shown be cabinet of Govt
Khalifah – Abu Bakr
Treasurer – Abu Obeidah
Supreme Judge – Umar
4. Denial of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&P) was a planned gesture to prevent
spreading the news of his death and buy time to secure matter of khilafat.