Preface

The Prophet Was Prevented from Writing a Will, The Unusual Event Raises Many Questions, What Did the Prophet Want to Write?, How Gould He Defy the Prophet?, Why Did the Prophet Not Insist on Writing His Directive?, How Could the Directive of the Messenger he a Security to the Nation Against Straying?

PART II

THE IMAM DURING THE ERA OF THE THREE CALIPHS,

16 ABU BAKR SUCCEEDS

Legal and Historical Questions, Did the Messenger of God Desire to Appoint Abu Bakr as His Successor?, Was the Election of Abu Bakr Legal?, Quraish and the Caliphate

17. ALI VIEWS THE SUCCESSION

18. ABU BAKR NAMES A SUCCESSOR

19. OMAR SUCCEEDS

Dialogues About the Caliphate, The Dimensions of Omar's Policy, Prearranged the Future of the Muslims, Subversive Elements in the Caliph's Regime

20. THE ELECTORAL CONVENTION

Observations, Unwarranted Stipulation, Ali's Unique Dedication, Motives and Consequences

21. Othman's Reign

Early Opposition, Implementation of the Omayad's Plan, The Third Caliph and His Two Predecessors, The Growth of Opposition, Opposition Outside Medina, Now People Remembered Ali, The Caliph is Besieged, Observation

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INTRODUCTION

PART III

THE IMAM IN HIS OWN ERA

22. THE ELECTION OF THE IMAM ALI

An Early Opposition Were Talhah and Al-Zubeir Forced to Elect the Imam?

23. THE BATTLE OF BASSRAH

The Imam's Journey Abu Musa Al-Ashaari The Imam's Effort for Peace The Beginning of the Battle The Responsibility of the Three Leaders

24. THE ALLEGED CONSPIRACY

Did Abdullah Ibn Saba Exist? To Discredit Abu Tharr and Ammar Is to Discredit the Prophet The Source of the Legend

25. THE BATTLE OF SIFFEEN

Idealist Versus Opportunist New Efforts for Peace Martyrdom of Ammar Ibn Yasir The Big Conspiracy The Two Arbiters

26. AL-KHAWARIJ (THE SECEDERS)

Violent Extremism Prophecies

27. MARTYRDOM

The Fulfilled Promise

28. THE IMAM'S POLICY CONCERNING PUBLIC FUNDS

Was It Politically Sound?

29. WAS THE WAR OF SIFFEEN INEVITABLE?

Mugheerah and Ibn Abbas Was Omayad's Rule Inevitable?

30. DID THE IMAM EXERCISE HIS RULE AS A PREACHER?

Why Did the Imam Bind Himself With a Document Which Was Forced Upon Him?

31. WHY DID THE REIGN OF THE IMAM NOT LAST LONG?

Ali Did Not Have the Two Elements The Growth of the Qureshite's Influence and the Obscurity of the Imam The Electoral Convention Put the Caliphate in the Hands of the Omayads New Competitors Qureshites, Hostile or Deserter? Conclusions

PART IV THE CALIPHATE IN THE ISLAMIC LAW

32. SHOULD THE FIRST CALIPHATE HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY INHERITANCE, POPULAR ELECTION, OR BY THE PROPHET'S SELECTION

The Nature of the Islamic Principle is Consonant with Selection More than Election The Dangers Which Were About to Face the Nation The Need for an Authority in Interpretation of the Qur'an and Communication of the Prophet's Instructions

33. HAD WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE BEEN DONE? Ali Is the Gate of the City of Knowledge

34. THE HOME CONFERENCE

35. THE HADITH OF THE ANALOGY "YOU ARE TO ME LIKE AARON TO MOSES"

36. THE HADITH OF PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY

37. HADITH AL-THAQALAIN (THE TWO VALUABLES)

Abu Zuhrah's Argument Against Hadith No.1 The Shi-ites Do Not Believe In the Inheritance of the Caliphate The Sunnis Are Closer Than the Shi-ites to the Opinion of Leadership by Inheritance Political and Jurisprudential Leadership

38. THE HADITH OF THE WILAYAH

The Meaning of Hadith Al-Ghadeer The Verse of Proclamation Why Did the Prophet Not Say: "Ali Is Your Ameer, or My Caliph, or Your Imam?" The Conclusion Let Us Find Our Way Agreeable Points The Shi-ite Companions of the Prophet Legitimacy and Negative Aspects of Elective Caliphate The House of the Prophet Is to Be Followed Unjustifiable Bias My Humble Effort

GLOSSARY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Preface

Table of Contents

PART I

THE IMAM ALI DURING THE ERA OF THE PROPHETHOOD

PART II

THE IMAM DURING THE ERA OF THE THREE CALIPHS,

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INTRODUCTION

PART III

THE IMAM IN HIS OWN ERA

PART IV THE CALIPHATE IN THE ISLAMIC LAW