The verse of walayat is among the verses that the Shi as have referred to as argumentation for the immediate Imamate of Imam Ali (A.S). The opponents to the school of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S) argue, by throwing out doubts, that if the verse of walayat had been about Imam Ali (A.S), he would have referred to and argued by it. Reviewing this issue in both Sunni and Shi a sources, the author concludes that such adducing had been done by the Imam (A.S) and his companions against the opponents.
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