I did not know that you considered names such as Tabari, Ibn Kathir, Suyuti et al writers for the Shia web sites. As for whether what i said exists in the commonly accepted Islamic history books or not I leave it to the readers to decide.
Tabari, Ibn Kathir, Suyuti are all Sunnis and are so to the core and believed in Khilafat of Hz. Abu Bakr, Hz. Umar, Hz. Uthman and that of Hz. Ali (may Allah be pleased them all) in that very sequence and held Hz. Abu Bakr as the noblest of them all, then Hz. Umar, and then Hz. Uthman and then Hz. Ali (may Allah be pleased them all).
Many 12er Shia sites misquote them to ‘prove’ the slant of their sect. This fact is well known.
And Imam Ali (as) indeed proclaimed his right to successorship. Why do you think the great companions of the Prophet like Ammar Yasir, Salman Farsi, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abu Ayub Ansari, Jabir b Abdullah Ansari did not pay allegiance to Abu Bakr? Why Ahlul Bayt and the Bani Hashim didn't pay allegiance to Abu Bakr?
You just counted five people for Hz. Ali (ra) and this was their initial reaction for their own chose. They all pay allegiance to Hz. Abu Bakr (ra) and then to Hz. Umar (ra) and served in their respective administrations very successfully.
Hz. Ali (ra) too pledged his allegiance to Hz. Abu Bakr (ra) and Hz. Umar (ra).
It is the 12ers call it taqiyyah!!
2:256 There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. show me a single instance where the Prophet did not abide by the above divine rule and forced other people to follow him! Prophet had presented the message of Islam without any force, which is the right path and it was Imam Ali who was chosen to guide the nation on this right path.
Sorry this only 12ers belief. Hz. Ali (ra) is not 2nd edition to the Prophet (saw).
It is the duty of whole of the Ummah to carry the message beginning with the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all).
Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. [3:110]
Did Prophet "indicate" to chose Abu Bakr as the Khalifa? This topic has been discussed here comprehensively on numerous occasions and i dont think we need to go over it again. A simple search should produce enough good results.
Yeah this has been thrashed around a lot – Thank Allah that 90% of the Ummah know what is right.
Brother, Prophethood is different from Imamat. Reflect on the following verse:
[Shakir 2:124] And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.
Imamate is Shia Belief – Full stop.
All the Quraish are offspring of Hz. Ibrahim so what’s the problem?