History of Shiite

Shiite began with a reference made for the first time to the partisans of Hazrat Imam Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S)(shiah-i Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S), the first leader of the Household of the Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) during the lifetime of the Prophet(P.B.U.H) himself. The course of the first manifestation and the later growth of Islam during the twenty three years  of prophecy brought about many conditions which necessitated the appearance of a group such as the Shiites among the companions of the Prophet(P.B.U.H).
The Prophet(P.B.U.H) during the first days of his prophecy, when according to the text of the Quran he was command to invite his closer relatives to come to his religion, told them clearly that whoever would be the first to accept his invitation would become his successor and inheritor.Hazrat Imam Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S)(A.S) was the first to step forth embrace Islam. The Prophet(P.B.U.H) accepted Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) submission to the faith and thus fulfilled his promise .
From the Shiite point of view it appears as unlikely that the leader of a movement, during the first days of his activity, should introduce to strangers one of his associates as his successor and deputy but not introduce him to his completely loyal and devout aides and friedns.Nor does it appear likely that such a leader should accept someone as his deputy and successor and introduce him to others as such, but then throughout his life and religious call deprive his deputy of his duties as deputy, disregard the the respect due to his position as successor, and refuse to make any distinctions between him and others.
The Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H),according to many unquestioned and completely authenticated hadiths,both Sunni and shi'ite,clearly asserted that Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) was preserved from error and sin in his actions and sayings.Whatever he said and did was in perfect conformity with the teachings of religion and he was the most knowledgeable of men in matters pertaining to the Islam sciences and injunctions.
During the period of prophecy Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) performed valuable services and made remarkable sacrifies.When the infidels of Mecca decided to kill the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and surrounded his house, the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) decided to emigrate to Medina. He said to Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) " Will you sleep in my bed at night so that they will think that I am asleep and I will be secure from being pursued by them?" Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) accepted this dangerous assignment with open arms. This has been recounted in different histories and collections of hadith.(The emigration from Mecca to Medina marks the date of origin of the Islamic Calender, known as the hijrah.) Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) aslo served by fighting in battles of Badar, Uhad, Khaybar, Khandaq and Hunayan in which the victories achieved with his aid were such that if Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) had not been present the enemy would most likely have uprooted Islam and Muslims, as is recounted in the usual histories, lives of the Pophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) and collections of hadith.
For the Shi'ites, the central evidence of Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) legitimacy as successor to the Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) is the event of Ghadir Khumm when the Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) chose Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) " general guardianship of the people and made Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) like himself their "guardian”. it is obvious that because of such distinctive services and recognition, because of Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) special virtues which were acclaimed by all and because of the great love the Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) showed for him some of the companions of Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) who knew Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) well and who were champions of virtue and truth, came to love him. The assembled around Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) and followed him such an extent that many others began to consider their love for him excessive and a few perhaps also became jealous of him. Beside all these elements, we see in many sayings fo the Prophet reference to the "shi'ah of Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S) " and the "shia of the Household of the Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H).