WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Sunni believe that the line of succession to be the legitimate caliph began with Abu Bakr, while the Shia believe that Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, was the only legitimate caliph from the beginning.

Detailed explanation-2: -For the Shia, wilaya in this verse is interpreted as spiritual authority. Verse of Wilaya thus describes Ali as the rightful authority over the believers, after God and Muhammad, and underlines his right to succeed Muhammad as the spiritual and political leader of the Muslim community.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Sunnis recognize the first four caliphs as the Prophet Muhammad’s rightful successors, whereas the Shiʿah believe that Muslim leadership belonged to Muhammad’s son-in-law, ʿAlī, and his descendants alone.

Detailed explanation-4: -When Muhammad died in 632, he had not named a successor. One faction, the Shi’a, believed that only individuals with direct lineage to the Prophet could guide the Muslim community righteously. They thought that ‘Ali, Muhammad’s closest surviving blood male relative, should be their next leader (caliph).

Detailed explanation-5: -The Sunni branch of Islam stipulates that, as a head of state, a caliph should be elected by Muslims or their representatives. Followers of Shia Islam, however, believe a caliph should be an Imam chosen by God from the Ahl al-Bayt (the “Household of the Prophet").