Western scholar supports Zaidi Imamate Position:

Wilferd Madelung, a non-Muslim expert in Islamic history, in his book “The Succession to Muhammad”
strongly refutes the arguments of the Sunnis that Muhammad (pbuh) was not to be succeeded by any of
his family according to God’s design, and that Muhammad (pbuh) wished to leave the succession to be
settled by the Muslim community on the basis of consultation (shura). He does this because of the
overwhelming evidence he finds in the Qur’an that lineage from Prophets is a prerequisite for legitimate
Islamic leadership. He writes in his Introduction:

“The Qur’an accorded the Ahlul Bait of Muhammad an elevated position above the rest of the faithful,
similar to the position of the families of the earlier prophets…. It is evident that he could not have
considered Abu Bakr his natural successor or have been pleased by his succession…. He could not have
seen his succession essentially other than in the light of the narrations of the Qur’an about the
succession of the earlier prophets… These earlier prophets considered it a supreme divine favor to be
succeeded by their offspring or close kin, for which they implored their Lord…. Even if the meaning of
the term “The Seal of the Prophets” is accepted to be the “last of the prophets”, there is no reason it
should imply that Muhammad , as the spiritual and worldly leader of the Muslim community, aside from
his prophethood, should not be succeeded by his family. In the Qur’an, the descendants and close kin of
the prophets are their heirs also in respect to kingship (mulk), rule (hukm), wisdom (hikma), the book
and the imamate. The Qur’an advises the faithful to settle some matters by consultation, but not the
succession to prophets.” (pp 16-18)

After the introduction, his book goes on to describe the way the leadership was wrongfully handed over
to the Prophet’s companions, in great detail, based upon the early source material. But, historical
material is fairly subjective, and the best way to judge the historical events is by comparing them with
the clear message of the Qur’an, as he has done very thoroughly in his introduction.

Madeling Zaida/ : ‫ﻛﺎﺗﺐ اﻟﻤﻘﺎﻟﺔ‬

04/01/2011 : ‫ﺗﺎرﻳﺦ اﻟﻨﺸﺮ‬
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