The issue of Imamate and Caliphate after the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is one of the most critical and sensitive subjects in Islamic history. It has always attracted the attention of scholars from both Sunni and Shia traditions. Among the key proofs cited in this debate is the noble hadith: “None loves you except a believer, and none hates you except a hypocrite.” In this hadith, Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (peace be upon him) is presented as a clear criterion for identifying true faith and hypocrisy, reflecting his unique spiritual and religious status in Islam.

However, this position was disregarded in post-Prophetic events such as the Saqifah gathering. Therefore, the core objective of this study is to establish the immediate Imamate of Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him) through this hadith and to refute Abu Bakr’s caliphate based on this Prophetic standard.

The importance of this research lies in the fact that this hadith is reported in several authoritative Sunni sources and holds significant weight in affirming the legitimacy of Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him) while challenging the validity of Abu Bakr’s leadership. Using a descriptive-analytical method and a hadith-historical approach, this study examines the hadith’s content, context, and transmission. It argues—based on Sunni narrations, historical reports, and scholarly statements—that the hadith decisively supports the superiority and rightful Imamate of Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him), and that Abu Bakr’s actions reflect enmity and hypocrisy as defined by the Prophet.