قَالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ ﷺ يَا عَلِيُّ اَنْتَ اَخِي وَ وَارِثِي وَ وَصِيِّي وَ خَلِيفَتِي فِي اَهْلِي وَ اُمَّتِي فِي حَيَاتِي وَ بَعْدَ مَمَاتِي مُحِبُّكَ مُحِبِّي وَ مُبْغِضُكَ مُبْغِضِي يَا عَلِيُّ اَنَا وَ اَنْتَ اَبَوَا هَذِهِ الْاُمَّةِ يَا عَلِيُّ اَنَا وَ اَنْتَ وَ الْاَئِمَّةُ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ سَادَةٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ مُلُوكٌ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مَنْ عَرَفَنَا فَقَدْ عَرَفَ اللهَ وَ مَنْ اَنْكَرَنَا فَقَدْ اَنْكَرَ اللهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said,
“O Ali! You are my brother, my heir, my successor and my Caliph in my family and my nation during my life and after my death. One who loves you loves me and one who hates you hates me. O Ali! I and you are the fathers of this nation. O Ali! I, you and the Imams from your progeny are the leaders in this world and kings in the hereafter. Whoever knows us then indeed he has known Allah and whoever denies us has indeed denied Allah – Mighty and Majestic be He.”
Note:
‘….my Caliph in my family…’ is important. If the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) violated the conditions of marriage after his (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) martyrdom, the right of divorce was in the hands of Ali (peace be upon him). Did he (peace be upon him) divorce some wives of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) after his death or not is a matter of debate among the historians and scholars.
The last sentence shows that the cognition of Allah the High is possible only through them (peace be upon him). Their appointment is from Allah the High and hence, one who denies them has denied Him.
References:
1. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 23, p. 128, H. 59
2. Amaali of Shaikh Saduq (r.a.), p. 657, 94th Majlis