Conclusion

The beginning of Islam is not separate from the beginning of Shí'ism; it started with the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad al-Mustafa (s.a.w.), and has been preserved in its origin form by the Imams of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

The Prophet presented the message of Islam in the da'wat dhu 'l-'ashíra and also introduced 'Ali as "my brother, my successor, and my caliph." And then just a few months before his death, in the biggest gathering of his life, at Ghadír Khumm, the Prophet clearly appointed 'Ali as the mawla (the master, the leader) of the ummah. In between the da'wat and Ghadír Khumm, the Prophet introduced 'Ali to the people in various occasions. The appointment of 'Ali for imãmat and khilãfat was explicit and clear.

'Ali and the Imams from among his descendants are the Ahlul Bayt in the Qur'ãnic term. Loving and honouring them is an Islamic duty of all Muslims. The Ahlul Bayt have been vested by Allãh with the wilãyat in the broadest sense of the word, and that also includes the 'ilmu 'l-ghayb.

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