The Imamate of Imam Ali (PBUH) According to Mubahala Verse

In the Holy Quran, addressing His Messenger, God states: "say," Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, then let us pray earnestly and call down Allah's curse upon the liars." (3:61), this verse, which has been given the name 'Mubahalah', has been sent down in the course of a dispute between the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Christian people of Najran. It has always been, and will continue to be, one of the clearest Quranic evidences of the virtues of the Prophet's household (Ahl al-Bayt) and especially Ali (PBUH). On the strength of the content of the verse and trusted historical sources, Shia theologians and interpreters and The majority of Sunni scholars have reached a general consensus that in the verse, 'our soul's points to the Prophet and Ali, together or to Ali alone. However, whether Ali alone is the referent or both the Prophet and Ali, it shows his high position with the Prophet and that in the conflict between truth and falsehood, Ali is the complete manifestation of the Prophet. Shia theologians use the Verse of Mubahalah to prove Ali's superiority over all except the Prophet. Since the Prophet is God's best creature and Ali, according to the verse is as his soul, then, except for prophethood Ali is similar to the Prophet. As a result, Ali is superior to all except Muhammad himself. Shia theologians use this verse to prove Ali's rightfulness for caliphate after the Prophet and believe that choosing others for caliphate while Ali was present was wrong, for God never approves that the superior becomes the follower while the inferior is the leader. Despite believing in Ali's superiority over all or at least over some companions of the Prophet, Sunnis reject Shia reasons for Ali's rightfulness for caliphate and try to oppose in different ways. In this article while analyzing the different attitudes towards the verse, we offer replies to the objectors