What proof that the Sunnis are the only sect that faithfully adheres to the imams of Ahl al-Bayt, upon them be peace, because they have the most reliable narrations on the authorities of Imam ‘Ali and the other imams.
There are those Sunnis who claim exclusive devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt but when we investigate the sources of Sunni belief and practice, we do not find the imams of Ahl al-Bayt exclusively. Instead, we find other scholars’ opinions. They seemingly equate the opinions of their scholars with those of the imams of Ahl al-Bayt when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, only relegated his Progeny as the sources of guidance.
For example, when we look at the jurisprudential issue of reciting Bismillah ar-Rahmân ar-Rahîm in the prayer, we see a variety of opinions from the Sunnis. According to Sunni Imams Abu Hanifa and Ahmed, it is recited inaudibly; according to Sunni Imam Malik, it isn’t recited at all; and according to Sunni Imam ash-Shafi’i, it is recited aloud. In spite of all of this, Imam al-Bayhaqi has narrated in his Al-Khalâfiyât: “It is the collective consensus of the Prophet’s Progeny that Bismillah ar-Rahmân ar-Rahîm is recited aloud.” How could the Sunni sects claim exclusive devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt when they differ amongst themselves regarding an issue that is a matter of collective consensus of the Ahl al-Bayt?!
One may say that the Shafi’is agree with the Ahl al-Bayt in the issue of reciting Bismillah ar-Rahmân ar-Rahîm aloud in the prayer. However, this does not mean that the Shafi’i madhhab is based on the imams of Ahl al-Bayt. This is because the Shafi’is hold to the legitimacy of wiping over the leather socks during the ritual ablution (wuďu). Yet, Imam ash-Shawkâni narrated in his Nayl al-Awŧâr:
All of the Prophet’s Progeny, the Imamites, the Kharijites, and Abu Bakr bin Dâwud az-Žâhiri hold that the wiping [over the leather socks] is not permissible in washing the feet.”
