This article explores the potential of historical scholarship to contribute to theological (kalām) discussions by examining the issue of the succession of Amir al-Muʾminin ʿAlī (peace be upon him). While the majority of previous studies have addressed this topic through a theological framework grounded in the concept of explicit designation (naṣṣ), relying primarily on Qurʾanic verses and Prophetic traditions, such approaches are often shaped by sectarian presuppositions. This study seeks to move beyond these limitations by employing historical methodology as an independent analytical tool. Adhering to the principles of historical research and utilizing an inferential (dalālah-based) analytical approach, the article applies a horizontal borrowing from the discipline of history to theology in order to reassess the question of succession.

The research analyzes a range of historical evidence, including temporally and spatially contextualized Prophetic statements concerning ʿAlī’s succession, reports of allegiance (bayʿah) by certain Companions at Ghadīr, reflections of the succession issue in early Islamic poetry, the emergence of claimants to the Prophet’s succession, and historical accounts indicating the Companions’ beliefs regarding ʿAlī’s right to succession and their objections to the ruling authority. The findings demonstrate that, independent of theological presuppositions, the succession of Amir al-Muʾminin ʿAlī can be substantiated through historical data and analysis. By presenting a historically grounded reading of this central issue, the study offers an alternative methodological perspective that contributes to a more interdisciplinary understanding of Islamic intellectual history.