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The Prophet implicitly or explicitly selected Abu Bakr to succeed him. The was no disagreement between the Family of the Prophet and the Companions after the death of the Prophet. In the ridda wars, the Muslim army only attacked apostates. There were no injustices committed during the caliphate of Uthman. The armies who fought Ali led these wars only to punish the men who killed Uthman. The Battle of the Camel was started by an evil band of men in Ali’s army who wished to destroy Islam. Their leader was a scheming Jew. He was black too. Muawiya possessed distinctions that establish his sanctity and thus make him immune from any criticism. His actions are considered ijtihad. The Conflicts of Companions
The Conflicts of Companions (1) the pledge of allegiance to Abū Bakr (2) the decision to attack some of the rebel Companions accused of ridda, (3) opposition to the policies of ‘Uthmān and his Umayyad governors, (4) the refusal to pledge allegiance to ‘Alī, (5) the Battle of the Camel, (6) the Battle of Ṣiffīn, and finally (7) Mu‘āwiya's order to pillage and massacre people living in provinces that had pledged allegiance to ‘Alī.
The Deputy of God on Earth under the Umayyads • Muhammad guided his people, but the khaliftullah is your living Guide. • The practice [sunna] of your Imam is the truth. The parties of other Imams are misguided.
The Paradigm Shift after 200 AH After the eras of Shafi'i and Ma'mun only scholars define the Sunna. 1. Exponents of the Sunna are Scholars not Caliphs. 2. The sunna is a set of concrete rules not a general spirit. 3. It is resistant to reinterpretation or becoming curtailed to a circle of inheritors. 4. Sunna is found in the past, it is not a living example.
Authority Today • Legislative, Executive and Spiritual Authorities • Legislative: Placing potential laws upon the table. Utilizing sacred texts (e.g. the Constitution) and experts. • Executive: Administering affairs justly by selecting the best method to implement legislation. • Confusing the requisites of legislative and executive authority.