In the process of the lslamicd society formation, supported by the leadership of the holy prophet, he burdened Himself with different responsibilities, one important of which was to assign Imam Ali as his own successor, asserting it in different situations - one who was the real resume of prophethood, the same as custodianship and leadership of the society.
In this essay, an effort is made to prove, on the basis of both Shia and Sunni’s evidences, that the holy prophet repeatedly addressed Imam Ali’s followers as Shia. Accordingly, Shia traces its authority to the holy prophet and the initial Islamic society
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