Now this little series of posts has been a massive learning curve for me as I’ve ascertained information that I really needed to know as I my self know a lot Muslims that could well come under any one of the categories on Sunni, Shia and Wahhabi so it’s very important for me to know what I’m talking about. Not only for that reason I have family around me all the time and this subject is always a main point of topic now I’m not questioning my family’s knowledge on the subject it’s just that they never seem to come to an agreement on what or not about what ever other madhabs involve.

I’m sure many of you who are reading this have been in similar situations and not been able to give factually based input in such a discussion. Where conversations between the average Muslim family or average Muslim group of friends by that hat I’m trying to imply is that the average Muslim is not a scholar of the deen and could possibly be misguided. And they are there having this conversation and that’s how rumours spread and end up turning into something else.

Inshallah Allah has given me the intellect to portray this information for you with totally factually based information and no prejudiced.

This section covers the Shia madhab

Shia

Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam or Shi‘ism (Arabic شيعة šīʿa), is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith after Sunni Islam. Shias adhere to the teachings of Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family (who are referred to as the Ahl al-Bayt) or his descendents known as Shi’a Imams. Muhammad’s bloodline continues only through his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra and cousin Ali which alongside the prophet’s grandsons are the Ahl al-Bayt. Thus, Shi’as consider Muhammad’s descendents as the true source of guidance while considering the first three ruling Sunni caliphs a historic occurrence and not something attached to faith. The singular/adjective form is šīʿī (شيعي.) and refers to a follower of the faction of Imam Ali according to the Shia ideology.

Shia Islam, like Sunni Islam, has at times been divided into many branches; however, only three of these currently have a significant number of followers. The best known and the one with most adherents is the Twelvers (اثنا عشرية iṯnāʿašariyya) which have a large percentage in Iran 90% and Iraq; the others are Ismaili, Sevener, and Zaidiyyah. Alawites and Druzes consider themselves Shias, although this is sometimes disputed by mainstream Shias. The Sufi orders among the Shias are the Alevi, Bektashi, Kubrawiya, Noorbakhshi, Oveyssi, Qizilbashi, Hamadani and Fatimid orders and denominations. Twenty percent of Turkey’s population is Alevi while Lebanon and Syria have a large presence of Druze and Alawites.

Shia Etymology

“Shia” is the short form of the historic phrase šīʿat ʿAlī (شيعة علي), meaning “the followers of Ali” or “the faction of Ali”. Both Shia and Sunni sources trace the term to the years preceding the death of Muhammad; see Shia etymology.

The word “Shia” means “followers; members of party”. It can be interpreted in a wider sense than simply “followers of Ali”: it signifies that they claim that the Shia Muslims are the followers and believers of (Allah) the Almighty Creator of existence, His Prophets (Guides to Heaven), His Messages and the Ahlul Bayt (The Family of the House of Prophet Mohammad) and the prophet’s descendents which are the shi’a Imams Fathered by Ali. The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Mohammad) said to Imam Ali: “Good News to you, O Ali! Verily you and your companions and your Shia (followers) will be in Paradise

Overview

Nahj al-Balagha, one of the most cherished Shia collections after Qur’an

Shia Muslims believe that the descendents from Muhammad through his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali (the Imams) were the best source of knowledge about the Qur’an and Islam, the most trusted carriers and protectors of Muhammad’s Sunnah (traditions), and the most worthy of emulation.

In particular, Shia Muslims recognize the succession of Ali (Muhammad’s cousin, son-in-law, the first man to accept Islam — second only to Muhammad’s wife Khadija — the male head of the Ahl al-Bayt or “people of the [Prophet’s] house”) and the father of the Prophet Muhammad’s only bloodline as opposed to that of the caliphate recognized by Sunni Muslims. Shia Muslims believe that Ali was appointed successor by Muhammad’s direct order on many occasions, and that he is therefore the rightful leader of the Muslim faith.

This difference between following either the Ahl al-Bayt (Muhammad’s family and descendents) or the Caliph Abu Bakr has shaped Shia and non-Shia views on some of the Qur’an, the Hadith (narrations from the prophet) and other areas of Islam. For instance, the collection of Hadith venerated by Shia Muslims is centered around narrations by members of the Ahl al-Bayt, while some Hadith by narrators not belonging to the Ahl al-Bayt are not included (those of Abu Huraira, for example). Ali was the third successor to Abu Bakr and, for the Shia, the first divinely sanctioned “imam,” or male descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. The seminal event in Shia history is the martyrdom in 680 CE of Ali’s son Hussein, who led an uprising against the “illegitimate” caliph (72 of Hussein’s followers were killed as well). For the Shia, Hussein came to symbolize resistance to tyranny.

Regardless of the dispute about the Caliphate, the Shia recognize the religious authority of the Shia Imams, also called Khalifa Ilahi.

Main doctrines

The Shia believe in the five pillars of Islam, as do Sunnis, but categorize them differently. Shia beliefs include the following:

Theology of Shia (Usūl al-Dīn)

• Tawhīd (Oneness): The Oneness of God
• Nubuwwah (Prophethood): God has appointed perfect and infallible prophets and messengers to teach mankind the religion (that is, a perfect system of how to live in “peace” (”submission to God”))
• Qiyamah (The Day of Judgment): God will raise mankind for Judgment
• Adalah (Justice): The Justice of God
• Imamah (Leadership): God has appointed specific leaders to lead and guide mankind — a prophet appoints a custodian of the religion before his demise

Branches of Religion (Furū al-Dīn)

• Salat — called “Namaaz” in Persian — (Prayer) – Performing the five daily prayers (Prayers can be made up for at night)
• Sawm — called “Roozeh” in Persian — (Fast) – fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan (Able to eat after the sun goes down)
• Hajj (Pilgrimage) – performing the pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a lifetime)
• Zakat (Poor-rate) – paying the poor-tax (2.5% of your wealth every year should go to the poor)
• Khums (One-fifth of savings) – paying tax to the Imam (سهم اما)
• Jihad (Struggle) – struggling to please the Almighty. The greater, or internal Jihad is the struggle against the evil within one’s soul in every aspect of life. The lesser, or external, Jihad is the struggle against the evil of one’s environment in every aspect of life. This is not to be mistaken with the common modern misconception that this means “Holy War”. Writing the truth (jihad bil qalam) and speaking truth in front of an oppressor are also forms of Jihad.
• Amr-Bil-Ma’rūf – commanding what is good
• Nahi-Anil-Munkar – forbidding what is evil
• Tawalla – loving the Ahlul Bayt and their followers
• Tabarra – dissociating oneself from the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt

Additional doctrines

Shia have many other doctrines that are shared with other Muslims, such as wearing of the Hijab. However, some are seen as more predominantly used by Shias, such as Dissimulation (Arabic: Taqiyya), which is the dissimulation of one’s religious beliefs when one fears for one’s life and the lives of one’s family members.

Misconceptions

There are seemingly widespread misconceptions about Shia doctrines, regarding how and why the Shia uphold them.

It is often said that the Shia worship or deify Imam Ali, because they see him as being infallible. While the majority of Muslims at the time of Muhammed’s death favoured Abu Bakr as the Caliph, a portion of the population supported Ali, the prophet’s son-in-law and cousin. Therefore, the Shia do not recognize Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman as the first three caliphs. (Ali was recognized as the fourth caliph in 656 C.E.)

Shia Islam was seen by some as a political-religious sect that recognizes the leadership of Ali and his descendants. Theologically, Sunni Islam and Shia Islam differ over the concept of pre-ordination, with Shia refusing to accept the God (Allah) has preordained what will happen.

However, the Alawites a sect of Shia, hold Ali as an incarnation of God. The majority of Shias denounce such beliefs as blasphemous and against the grain of Islam (absolute, total and inarguable belief and existence of one God). Shia do not view Ali as a Prophet as many accuse them of doing. He is seen only as the proper protector of the Islamic nation after the death of the prophet Muhammad.

While Shia and Sunni Muslims accept the same sacred text, the Qur’an, it is claimed by Salafi’s that the Shia dispute the current version. Nonetheless, Shias say that the accusation is false, as they believe that the Qur’an has never been maliciously altered.

Denominations

• Most Shia are Twelvers (Isna Asharai) and they recognize twelve Imams.

1. Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661), also known as Ali, Amir al-Mo’mineen (commander of the faithful), also know as Shah-e Mardan Ali (King of men)
2. Hasan ibn Ali (625–669), also known as Hasan al Mujtaba
3. Husayn ibn Ali (626–680), also known as Husayn al Shaheed, also known as Sah Hüseyin

Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as Ali Zainul Abideen

Muhammad ibn Ali (676–743), also known as Muhammad al Baqir

Jafar ibn Muhammad (703–765), also known as Jafar as Sadiq

Musa ibn Jafar (745–799), also known as Musa al Kazim

Ali ibn Musa (765–818), also known as Ali ar Ridha

Muhammad ibn Ali (810–835), also known as Muhammad al Jawad (Muhammad at Taqi), also known as Taki

Ali ibn Muhamad (827–868), also known as Ali al-Hadi, also known as Naki

Hasan ibn Ali (846–874), also known as Hasan al Askari

Muhammad ibn Hasan (868–?), also known as Hojjat ibn al Hasan, also known as Mahdi

• There are a few groups of Ismaili Shia, which include Nizari Ismailis, Dawoodi Bohras, Alavi Bohras, and the Seveners. Nizaris are small in numbers, though they are the biggest non-Twelver Shia group. They accept Jafar as Sadiq’s eldest son Ismail as the next Imam. Seveners do not recognize any further of the Twelvers’ Imams beyond Jafar. The only major non-Twelver and non-Ismaili group are Zaidis.

Status of a Shia Imam

Shia Islam holds that the Imamate is one of the fundamentals of Islam (a part of the Usul-Ad-din) and that one should follow the Imams of Ahlul Bayt, in order to correctly follow the Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah. The Shia believe that the Imams of Ahlul Bayt are infallible based on one of the verses of Quran:

Sunni sources In Sahih Muslim, Chapter of virtues of companions, section of the virtues of Ali, 1980 Edition Pub. In Saudi Arabia, Arabic version, v4, p1874, Tradition #37

Narrated Yazid Ibn Hayyan:

We went to Zaid Ibn Arqam and said to him: You have found goodness (for you had the honor) to live in the company of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and offered prayer behind him, and the rest of the Hadith is the same (as 3 traditions before) but the Prophet said: “Behold, for I am leaving amongst you two weighty things, one of them is the Book of Allah…”, and in this (Hadith) these words are also found: We said: “Who are his Ahlul-Bayt (that the Prophet was referring to)? Are they his wives?” Thereupon Zaid said: “No, by Allah! A woman lives with a man (as his wife) for a while; he then divorces her and she goes back to her parents and her people. The Ahlul-Bayt of the Prophet are his lineage and his descendants (those who come from his blood) for whom the acceptance of charity (Sadaqah) is prohibited.

The Ahlul Bayt are the perfect example for mankind, and like the prophets, they should be emulated in acts and deeds. The Shia believe that the Imams of Ahlul Bayt carry the divinely appointed responsibility of protecting Islam and enacting the example of the pure Sunnah of Muhammad. The Imams of Ahlul Bayt have guided Muslims throughout history, in many cases under the most horrible circumstances and under the most severe forms of discrimination due to the cruel policies of the reigning governments of the time. They are seen as incorruptible and infallible role models for Muslims that have shown the way of goodness and prosperity in this world and the next in the best way until their martyrdom or occultation.