![]() In the first century after the Prophet, the term sunnah was not specifically defined as 'Sunnah of the Prophet' but was used in connection to Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, Uthman, and some Umayyad Caliphs. This spiritual and absolute authority of ‘Ali was known as walayah and it was inherited by his successors, the Imams. ![]() In other words, ‘Ali's guidance was seen to be the expression of God's will and the Qur'anic message. Even some of Ali's early followers regarded him as 'an absolute and divinely guided leader who could demand of them the same kind of loyalty that would have been expected for the Prophet.' For example, one of Ali's supporters who also was devoted to the Prophet said to him: 'our opinion is your opinion and we are in the palm of your right hand.' The early followers of ‘Ali seem to have taken his guidance as 'right guidance' deriving from Divine support.
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