All Muslims belong to one sect or another, even if they are not aware of it. (Or, sometimes multiple sects) The beliefs and practices they have learned reflect the views of a certain group.
Because Sunnis are the majority, usually "simply Muslim" means "Sunni". (That is, there is no neutral zone.) Of course, within Sunnism there are also varying groups.
Not all of the names you mentioned in your question had really claimed Imamate,but it is a fact that some of the children or grandchildren of curtain imams did wrongly claim Imamate.The reasons behind that were mostly political and for gaining worldly benefits. All those who wrongly claimed Imamate had failed,despite the political and financial support from the rulers and governments of their times who were always interested and keen to create dispute between the followers of Ahlulbayt. Being a son or a grandson of the Infallible Imam does not mean that he is also an Infallible,we read in Quran how one of the sons of prophet Adam [AS] did kill his own brother. Al-madeena [5]. We also read in Quran about the son of prophet Noah who disobeyed Allah and his father.Hud[45]. It is worth mentioning that most of those sons of grand sons who did wrong have repented their mistakes.
Every Muslim is responsible to obey Allah The Exalted and follow the Prophet SAWA. We are not allowed to blindly follow our families, culture, society in matters of faith without evidence. When the Muslim establishes concrete evidence that he is working according to the orders of Allah The Exalted, from Quran and according to the authentic orders of the Prophet of Islam SAWA, then he does not need to go through the different sects. We read in the books of Hadeeth that the Muslim Ummah will be divided into 73 sects, out of which just one sect will go straight to Paradise. The 72 sects which remain also had many sub sects over the many past centuries.A Muslim is not responsible to go through all the sects and sub sects as far as he has established authentic and concrete evidence that he is following the clear orders of the Prophet of Islam SAWA which was to keep following the Quran and Ahlulbayt AS.
Shia Muslims are the real followers of the authentic teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and they will be going with him where ever he goes. The Prophet himself called his most pious followers as Shia of Ali as you see many Sunni books like:1. Shawaahid Al-Tanzeel by al-Hasakaani, V. 2, P. 66.
2. Al-Durr Al-Manthour by al-Siyooti, V.6, P. 379.
3. Yanabee' al-Mawaddah by al-Qandouzi Al-Hanafi, P.62.
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