In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.
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Who is the successor of the Prophet (PBUH&HF)?

Once a person told me that Abu Bakr is more knowledgeable than Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) (Na'oozo Billah)! I asked him how come?! He said because
Abu Bakr understood that he should assign a person as his successor to keep
the system and community working in order. As it is well-known Abu Bakr
assigned Umar as his successor. But the Prophet failed to realize this
important task that the Islamic community needs a qualified leader after
him, or perhaps it was not important for the prophet that who is going to
take over the power after him!

Is it our choice as to whom should be a Prophet or it is Allah's choice?
Can we select Prophet by Shura? The same goes for assigning the successor
of Prophet, for Allah knows best who is the most qualified for this
position. It seems very strange that a deputy of a chief is assigned by any
person other than him. Deputy of God (or prophet) is only assigned by God
(or prophet), and it is not people's business! There are many examples in
Quran where Allah states that He is the one who assigns a successor on the
earth. Allah, Exalted He is, states in Quran:

"O' David, we assigned you as Caliph (successor) on the earth ..."
(Quran 38:26)

"... We have assigned you (Abraham) as Imam (leader) for people ..."
(Quran 2:124)

As we see, Caliph/Imam for the mankind is assigned by Allah. See also 2:30
(about Adam). Even Prophet Moses, when he wanted to go to Miqaat, did not
ask people to form a Shura to assign a Caliph for him. Quran tells us that:

(Moses said: "O' Allah) assign me a vizier from my family, (that is)
my brother Aaron (Haroon) ...," (Allah) said: "We granted your
requests, O' Moses." (Quran 20:29-36).

Allah, Exalted, also said:

"Surely We gave the book to Moses and assigned his brother Aaron as
his vizier." (Quran 25:35).

Allah also said:

"... And Moses said unto his brother Aaron: Take my place among the
people." (Quran 7:142).


Notice that "Ukhlufni" and "Khalifa" (Caliph) are exactly from the same
root.

In this connection, let us take a look at the following interesting
tradition in Sahih al-Bukhari:

The Messenger of Allah said to Ali: "Your position to me is like the
position of Aaron (Haroon) to Moses, except that there shall