The Two Problems of Succession and Authority in Religious Sciences

In accordance, with the Islamic teachings which form its basis, Shiasim believed that the most important question facing Islamic society was the elucidation and clarification of Islamic teachings and the tenets of the religious sciences.
Only after such clarifications were made could the application of these teachings to the social order be considered.

In other words
Shiasim believed that, before all else, members of society should be able to gain a true vision of the world and of men based on the real nature of things. Only then could they know and perform their duties as human beings - in which lay their real welfare - even if the performance of these religious duties were to be against their desires.
After carrying out this first step a religious government should preserve and execute real Islamic order in society in such a way that man would worship none other than God, would possess personal and social freedom to the extent possible, and would benefit from true personal and social justice.

These two ends could be accomplished only by a person who was inerrant and protected by God from having faults. Otherwise people could become rulers or religious authorities who would not be free from the possibility of distortion of thought or the committing of treachery in the duties placed upon their shoulders.

Were this to happen, the just and freedom giving rule of Islam could gradually be converted to dictatorial rule and a completely autocratic government. Moreover, the pure religious teachings could become, as can be seen in the case of certain other religions, the victims of change and distortion in the hands of selfish scholars given to the satisfaction of their carnal desires.

As confirmed by The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf), that Ali followed perfectly and completely The Book of Allah and the Sunnah or Tradition of The Prophet(pbuh&hf) in both words and and most importantly in deeds.

As Shiasim sees it
If, as the majority say, only the Qurayish opposed the rightful caliphate of Ali, then that majority should have answered the Quraysh by asserting what was right. They should have quelled all opposition to the right cause in the same way that they fought against the group who refused to pay the religious tax Zakat. The majority should not have remained indifferent to what was right for fear of the opposition of the Quraysh.

What prevented the Shia from accepting the elective method of choosing the Caliphate by the people was:

Firstly, it was not a free democratic election.
Not all of the people concerned were present or were even invited to attend at the notorisly and illruptedly known place of un-Islamic vices, the Saqeefah meeting house on the outskirts of Al-Medina City.
The Saqeefah's reputation was most un-Islamic to say the least anyway. Not really a fitting place to hold an important election of an Islamic Leader, who is supposedly to be free of any vices!

The Saqeefah was a place never visited by The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) or Imam Ali Ibin Abe Taleb(as) or any God fearing Muslim Worshippers of Allah(swt). It was a place of the old Ignorant ways before Islam. It is a place of Ibleese and his evilness and wickedness acts of drunkardness, whoring and gambling just naming a few!

Nor were any other candidates to chose from
It started with a sqabble nearly ending in bloodshed and disary, with Umar striking a fellow Muslim who refused to give support to Abu Bakr as the 1st Calipha, and questioned why Ali Ibin Abe Taleb(as) wasn't consulted.
It then was hastily engineered to be just an agreement of a political convience of favours so that to make all attendees happy in some form or another. The Chaliphate vote was hurriedly supported by a few Clan members. Who in turn forced others to support their choice by leverage of either by kinship or clanship and others gave their support under sheer duress and intimidation.

Having said all that
Sadly some of our Sunni Muslim brothers who support the Caliphate outcome of the Saqeefah, tend to really forget the fundalmental teachings commands of Allah(swt).

And that it is to wholely Worship Him alone and Him alone and to abide and obey His every command, without question or reservation!

This is what being a Muslim is about and likewise what the Shia doctrine follows so obiediantly and most faithfully!

It was already declared by Allah(swt)
Through His Holy Messenger(pbuh&hf) at Gadheer Khumm that Ali was the Prophet's(pbuh&hf) sole and rightful chosen Successor by Allah(swt)!
So there is no two ways about it!
Either you accept and obey and follow God's Command or purposely committ a sin of sheer disobidence in the face of God! By refusing to obey and follow His Divine Command. Hence to possibilly face the most sevearest consequences of God's warth!
Not forgetting, the most Justified fear of the unwholesome consequences that would surely result from it:

The fear of the possible Corruption
In the Islamic Government and of the destruction of the solid basis for the sublime Religious Sciences.
As it so happened
Later events in the Islamic History confirmed this predicted feared, and proved the Shia right everytime! With the result that the Shia became ever more firm and steadfast in their belief and principle to only accept what is decreed by,

'Allah(swt) Commands through His Divine and Holy Messenger Mohammad(pbuh&hf), the Holy Koran, and through his Sacred and Holy Household the Ahlu Bayt(as)!'
'Afterall only, Allah(swt) really knows what's best for Mankind!'

During the earliest years, however, because of the small number of it's followers, Shiasim appeared outwardly to have been absorbed into the majority, although privately it continued to insist on acquiring the Islamic Sciences from the Household of The Prophet(pbuh&hf) and to invite people into its cause.

At the same time, in order to preserve the power of Islam and safeguard its progress. Shiasim did not display any open opposition to the rest of Islamic society. Members of the Shi'ite community even fought hand in hand with the Sunni majority in holy wars Jihad and participated in public affairs.

Ali himself guided the Sunni majority in the interest of the whole of Islam whenever such action was necessary.

Taken from "Islam : the living religioun " web site.