Ahl al-Bayt (as) Teachings

Ahl al-Bayt (as) Teachings

The Issue of Succession and Caliphate after the Prophet (pbuh): A Qur’anic Critique of Orientalists’ Perspectives with Emphasis on Moshe Sharon’s Views

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Saeed Abiri 1
Ebrahim Ameli 2
1 Faculty Member, Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies Complex, Qom Islamic Studies, Qom, Iran.
2 Lecturer in Islamic Studies (Islamic Ethics), Higher Education Complex of Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies, Qom, Iran.
10.22034/jatj.2026.578084.1085
Abstract
The issue of succession to the Prophet (pbuh) after his demise has been one of the most fundamental challenges in the Islamic world. This issue has given rise to extensive debates and arguments throughout Islamic history. Western scholars engaged in Islamic studies have often been influenced by Sunni biographical and historical sources, and consequently have put forward interpretations largely aligned with the Sunni theory of the caliphate. Within this scholarly context, Moshe Sharon, a specialist in the history of the medieval Islamic period, has undertaken a new examination of the succession to the Prophet Moḥammad (pbuh). In his works, Sharon critically reviews and rejects several major theories proposed by earlier Orientalists and places particular emphasis on kinship with the Messenger of God as a key factor in succession. However, by offering a specific interpretation of the term Ahl al-Bayt (as), he advances a perspective on leadership after the Prophet (pbuh) that stands in opposition to the foundational principles of Shiʿi doctrine concerning the Imamate. This article analyzes and critically evaluates Sharon’s views and seeks to answer the following two questions: 1.What are the views of Orientalist scholars who have studied the issue of the Prophet’s succession, and what criticisms can be raised against them? 2.What are Moshe Sharon’s views on the issue of the Prophet’s succession, and what criticisms can be made of them in light of Shiʿi beliefs?
Keywords
Qur&rsquo
an, Orientalists, Succession of the Prophet (pbuh), Sharon
Subjects
1.   The Holy Qurʾān
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Ahl al-Bayt (as) Teachings
Volume 3, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 31-56

  • Receive Date 25 February 2026
  • Accept Date 28 May 2026
  • First Publish Date 28 May 2026
  • Publish Date 01 March 2026