Hundred Questions - Heir to the Prophet
Heir to the Prophet
Q31 If the Sunnis refuse (inkar) to accept the event of Ghadir-i Khumm, how can the Shi`ah prove that Hazrat- i `Ali was the only true heir and worthy successor to the Prophet?
A31 This is by no means a new issue. Various books have been written on this basic and important subject. Therefore, in order to understand the problem thoroughly you should study these books. However, in response to your request, we will also explain some of the important points here.
The true heir of the Prophet is Imam `Ali (May peace be through him) and his progeny, whom God has chosen to inherit His heavenly Book according to the Qur'anic verse (35:32), so that after the demise of the Prophet they may live and be present in this world [as] a practical example of the Divine will and guide deserving Muslims and mu'mins on the straight path.
By chance you have used the word "refuse" in the question, which implies the rejection of well-grounded proofs. This is such a logic by which the question comes to an end automatically and no more room remains for further questioning.
The greatest and the most obvious proof of Imam `Ali (May peace be through him) and his progeny being the true heirs to the Prophet and the rightful inheritors of the holy divine inheritance is the continuation of the chain of Imamat and of guidance in the lineage of the Imams from the very beginning. For it is the Divine will that the system of divine guidance should continue forever as it was during the time of the Prophet.
Other than the chain of Imam `Ali (May peace be through him) and his progeny, who else can be symbolized by the Rope of God (hablu'llah) which is never broken (3:103); who else can be called the Light of God which is never extinguished (9:32; 61:8); who else can be called the Pure Tree (shajarah-yi tayyibah), which is evergreen and which gives fruit in all seasons and whose root is firm in the earth and branch reaches the heaven (14:24-25); and who else can represent God and his Prophet as the possessors of the divine command (wali-yi amr) so that the centre of religious guidance may continue forever (4:59); and through whom the greatness and eminence of the progeny of Hazrat-i Abraham (May peace be through him) and the progeny of Hazrat-i Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) may continue? It is this family upon which God has conferred the excellence of inheritance of the heavenly Book, wisdom and the great kingdom (spiritual kingdom) until the day of Resurrection (4:54).
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