This Is My Faith - Al-fatlawi, Ali - الصفحة ٢٣٢ - Is Imamate Established through Allegiance (Bai’a) or the Scripture (Al-Nas)?
(…Allah knoweth best with whom to place His message…)٦;١٢٤.
As long as the Imamate is the same as the Prophethood in regard to purpose and role, it is unquestionably a Divine affair.
Anwar: It is quite clear now that the Imamate and leadership of the community cannot be subjected to election or nomination. It is a Divine position written in the Scripture by the Most Gracious Allah.
Hasan: Yes, very well.
Anwar: Is it true that the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) did not commit themselves to this Divine inauguration, as it were.
Hasan: The true thing is that they just did not commit themselves to inauguration of Imam Ali (PBUH) which is the only Divine inauguration done at the hands of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Anwar: How is that?
Hasan: Do you know that Omar Bin Al-Khattab was inaugurated as a Caliph by Abu Bakr? Do you also know