I really don't see anything from Allah saying, "Behold! Abu Bakr is your Imam!" As for Imam Ali (as), 5:67. ** يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ {67} **Shakir 5:67] O Messenger! deliver what bas been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people.
where it is mentioned that it was for hazrat ali..............
let suppose if i say hazrat abu bakar or hazrat saad bin ibi waqas is being referred here. how can u refute me................ i think u have listened this interpretation in some majlis .......... but use bit of common sense as well.
i cant comment on the shan e nazool as i dont exactly about the shan e nazool of this ayat............ but it apparent that the shariat and paigham e hidayat is being discussed rather than the khilafat.
the last word is "kafrin" . kafir are least bothered whether prophet makes hazrat abu bakar or hazrat ali his succesor.