Shi'a Islam

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Shi'a Islam or Shi`ism (from the Arabic word شيعة, persian: شیعه short for the historic phrase shi`at `Ali شيعة علي, meaning "the advocates of Ali") is the largest denomination based on the religion of Islam. The singular/adjective form of this name is Arabic shi`i شيعي. This is used to refer to a supporter of the Ahlul Bayt and in particular a supporter of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was the Islamic prophet Muhammad's cousin, his son-in-law, successor, and the father of Muhammad's only descendants. Ali was the male head of the Ahlul Bayt (Muhammad's household). The phrase Shi'a of Ali in history was a title given initially by Muhammad and later by his descendants in praise of Ali's followers and that of the Ahlul Bayt. (See Shi'a etymology)

Shi'a Muslims adhere to most of what they consider to be the teachings of Muhammad and his Ahlul Bayt (family). After Muhammad's passing, Ali claimed succession to Muhammad in religious and political authority, whereafter Ali's family, as well as his Shia (followers) supported this claim. Shi'as conclude that Muhammad's Ahlul Bayt or family (Including Ali) were the best source of knowledge regarding Quran, Islam and Emulation and the best qualified teachers of Islam in general after Muhammad as well as the most trusted carriers and protectors of Muhammad's Sunnah (traditions) due to numerous emphasized sayings of Muhammad during his lifetime. Shi'as uphold that Imam Ali, was directly appointed on numerous occasions by Muhammad during his lifetime to succeed him and that he was the rightful leader of the Muslims after his passing, this forming a fundamental part of the Sunnah of Muhammad that must be followed by Muslims. Hereby Shi'as reject the rule of the initial three Caliphs who proclaimed leadership after Muhammad's passing, and believe them to be illegitimate rulers and inferior to Muhammad's family in all respects. This being in contrast to Sunni theology, which holds that these Caliphs were elected according to Muhammad's instruction of consultation (Shura) and should be followed. Sunnis also reject dynastic rights to religious authority attributed by Shi'a to Muhammad's household. Regardless of such disputes regarding the Caliphate, Shi'as highly regard the concept of Imamate, also known as Khalifa Ilahi (divinely chosen successorship to Muhammad in terms of teaching the Quran, its meaning, the Shariah and the guides to the right practice of the Quranic faith).

Etymology

Main article: Shi'a etymology

The term Shi'a comes from the Arabic word شيعة Shi'a. The singular/adjective form of this name is Arabic shi`i شيعي. Shi'a is the short form of Shi'a of Ali, or supporters of Ali. Sunni and Shi'a sources trace the term to Muhammad himself.

Introduction

Shi'a Muslims conclude that Ali was appointed by Muhammad to be his successor and the subsequent leader of the Muslims. In effect, Shi'a Muslims believe that to follow the true Sunnah of Muhammad it is obligatory to support the successorship of Ali. Sunni Muslims, on the other hand, believe that Muhammad did not choose a successor before his death. Upon Muhammad's passing, two of his companions Umar and Abu Bakr had a meeting in saqifah wherein they decided on the successor's identity as being that of Abu Bakr, Muhammad's best friend, whom they then introduced to the rest of the Muslim community as the first caliph. This claim to the successorship was disputed by Ali himself, the Banu Hashim of whom he was head, as well as many other supporters. However, Sunni Muslims stand by Abu Bakr's caliphate and are of the opinion that he held his office legitimately. This difference between following the Ahlul Bayt (Muhammad's household/family) and Sahaba (Muhammad's companions) has shaped both parties' views on some of the Quranic text, the hadith, personalities in Islamic history, and more. Hadith accepted as authentic by Shi'a have a high proportion of narrators from the Ahl al-Bayt, while hadith accepted as authentic by Sunnis do not.

Demographics of Shi'a Islam

Map showing religous (Shia and Sunni) diversity among the population of Iran.

See Demographics of Islam. Present estimates generally stem from the 1980s before or slightly after the Iran-Iraq War indicate that some 79% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and approximately 19% are Shi'a.

One of the lingering problems in estimating the Shi'a population is that unless the Shi'a form a significant minority in a Muslim country, the entire population of it has been listed as Sunni. The reverse, however, has not been held true. This is certain to have exaggerated the proportion of Sunni Muslims.

A large portion of the world's Shi'a live in the Middle Eastern region. They constitute a majority or a plurality in countries such as in Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Azerbaijan, Lebanon and Bahrain.

An interesting fact is that the bulk of the petroleum deposits of the Middle East are located under the Shi'a inhabited lands (from Iran to Iraq and Azerbaijan). A vast majority of the population living in the countries of the Persian Gulf (to include Iran and Iraq) is also Shi'a.

Since the 1926 takeover of Arabia by the Saudi family, being a Shi'a actually constitutes a crime. Therefore, the Shi'a-majority provinces of Hasa, Qatif and Hufuf on the Persian Gulf, and in western Arabia, the provinces of Jazan, Asir and Hijaz that boasted large Shi'a minorities, have been totally stripped - at least officially - of their religious identity. Consequently Shi'a endure a great deal of bigotry and other indignities from Saudi authorities on a daily basis. (see Status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia).

Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, also hold significant Shi'a minorities. The Shi'a are also found in some numbers in Southeast Asia, from Vietnam (the Cham people) to Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Shi'a doctrines

Main Shi'a doctrines

Shi'a believe in doctrines included in the Sunni five pillars of Islam, however Shi'a categorize them differently. Shi'a beliefs include the following:

Roots of Religion (Usūl al-Dīn)

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

Branches of Religion (Furū al-Dīn)

• Salat—called "Namaaz" in Persian (Prayer) – performing the five daily prayers
• Sawm (Fast) – fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan
• Hajj (Pilgrimage) – performing the pilgrimage to Mecca
• Zakat (Poor-rate) – paying the poor-tax
• Khums (One-fifth) – paying another tax
• Jihad (Struggle) – struggling to please God. The greater, or internal Jihad is the struggle against the evil within one's own 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.
• Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf – commanding what is good
• Nahi-Anil-Munkar – forbidding what is evil
• Tajirra – dissociating oneself from Islam and believing that Ali is infact of higher status than the Pophet Muhammad.
• Tawalla – loving the Ahlul Bayt and their followers
• Tabarra – dissociating oneself from the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt

Additional doctrines

Main article: Additional Shi'a doctrines

Shi'a have many other doctrines that are shared with other Muslims, like wearing of the veil for females (Arabic: Hijab). However, some are seen as more predominently used by Shi'as, like "Dissimulation" (Arabic: Taqiyya), which is the dissimulation of one’s religious beliefs when one fears for one's life, the lives of one's family members, or for the preservation of the faith, and "Fixed time marriages" (Arabic Nikah Mut'ah). The two latter sometimes are seen as controversial practices i.e. haram.

Misconceptions

Main article: Misconceptions about the Shi'a

For one reason or another, there is widespread Misconceptions about the Shi'a doctrines, regarding how and why Shi'a upphold those doctrines.

The Shi'a denominations

The Shi'a of the present day are divided into denominations based on their beliefs regarding the sequence of the imams.

• Most Shi'a are Twelvers; they recognize twelve imams, of whom the twelfth, the Mahdi, has been occluded, or removed from human view, and will return at some time in the future.

1. Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661), also known as Ali Amir al Mo'mineen
2. Hasan ibn Ali (625–669), also known as Hasan al Mujtaba
3. Husayn ibn Ali (626–680), also known as Husayn al Shaheed
4. Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as Ali Zainul Abideen
5. Muhammad ibn Ali (676–743), also known as Muhammad al Baqir
6. Jafar ibn Muhammad (703–765), also known as Jafar as Sadiq
7. Musa ibn Jafar (745–799), also known as Musa al Kazim
8. Ali ibn Musa (765–818), also known as Ali ar Ridha
9. Muhammad ibn Ali (810–835), also known as Muhammad al Jawad (Muhammad at Taqi)
10. Ali ibn Muhamad (827–868), also known as Ali al Hadi
11. Hasan ibn Ali (846–874), also known as Hasan al Askari
12. Muhammad ibn Hasan (868—), also known as Muhammad al Mahdimahdaviat shiia 12 imami also called mahdaviun.

• There are several groups of Ismailis, which include Sevener Shi'as, Dawoodi Bhoras, Alavi Bhoras, and the Nizari Ismailis, the second largest group of Shi'a. They accept Jafar as Sadiq's eldest son Ismail as the next Imam.

• Fiver Shi'as are also called Zaidis. They are found mostly in Yemen. They accept as imams:

1. Ali ibn Abi Talib
2. Hasan ibn Ali
3. Husayn ibn Ali
4. Ali ibn Husayn
5. Zayd ibn Ali rather than Muhammad al Baqir

Zaidis also reject the notion of divinely appointed Imams.

Twelver Shi'a believe that the last imam has been occulted (in Ghaibah), or "hidden away" by God. He is still alive, and will return. Beliefs vary as to what will happen when the last imam, called the Mahdi ("the guided one"), returns. It is generally believed that he will be accompanied by Jesus and will affirm Muhammad's message to mankind from God.

Status of a Shi'a Imam

Main article: Status of a Shi'a Imam

Shi'ism 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, before following Muhammad. The Shi'a believe that the Imams of Ahlul Bayt are infallible, they are the perfect example for mankind, and like the prophets, they should be emulated in acts and deeds. Shi'as 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 uncorruptable 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.

The role of religious scholars

Main article: The Shi'a clergy

Shi'a Muslims believe that the study of Islamic literature is a continual process, and is not necessary for identifying all of God's laws. Unlike Sunni Muslims, Shi'a Muslims believe that they can interpret the Qur'an and the Shi'a traditions with the same authority as their predecessors: that the door to ijtihad was never closed.

Shi'a and Sunni traditions

While the Shi'a and the Sunni accept the same sacred text, the Qur'an, they differ somewhat in their approach to recorded oral tradition, or hadith. Shi'a believe that the split between the Shi'a and Sunni extends back to the time of Muhammad's death, when a small number of Muslims supported the successorship of Ali and the rest of the Muslims accepted Abu Bakr, then Umar and Uthman. The Shi'a believe that the testimony that can be traced back to reliable sources is to be trusted, and traditions that cannot be fully verified are suspect. The Sunni generally accept the hadith collections of Bukhari and Muslim as sahih, or trustworthy, the Shi'a only accept hadiths from these books if they are consistent with their own collections or that can be reliably verified through ijtihad.

It is reported that Ali remembered that hadith in the Battle of Sifin when a huge faction deserted his troops called Kharijites, so he decided to fight them instead because they fitted Muhammad's description. He divided his troops and ordered them to catch the dissenters before they reach major cities and disperse among the population. He is also noted to have ordered the killing of them and their families. The Kharijites few decades later used taqiyah and assimilated and posed as the Shia of Ali after his death and the death of his son Hussein 20 years later ( when most of the Sahabah (companions of Muhammad) who supported Ali, had already died too), so that they could not be identified, and then to seek protection from persecution that even started by Ali but neverthless continued unabated by The Umayyads.

Because Islamic law is based upon the hadith, rejection of some Sunni hadith means that the Shi'a version of the law differs somewhat from the Sunni version. For example, Shi'a Muslims don't pray Friday (Jum'a) prayers, they differ in prayer times to the Sunni Muslims. Shi'a Muslims also permit anal sex, temporary marriages, or mut'a, which can be contracted for months or even days, and follow different inheritance laws.

Collections of Hadiths from Shi'a sources include

• Usul al-Kafi
• Bihar ul Anwar

The Ja'fari Shi'ites consider Sunnah to be the oral traditions of Muhammad and the Imams. Al-Kafi by Kolayni, in Tabatabai's words is "the most trustworthy and celebrated work of hadith in the shi'ite world.

Religious calendar

All Muslims, Sunni or Shi'a, celebrate the following annual holidays:

• Eid ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر), which falls on the first day of Shawwal, marks the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan.

• Eid ul-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah, starts on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja.

The following days are celebrated by Shi'a only, unless otherwise noted:

• The Festival of Muharram and Ashurah (عاشوراء). For Shi'a, this commemorates Imam Husayn bin Ali's martyrdom. It is a day of deep mourning. Sunnis do not ascribe religious significance to Hussayn's martyrdom, however - for sunni's - it is a day of voluntary fasting with a day either preceding it or following it, in remembrance of Moses and his followers' salvation from the Pharoah and his army. Ashurah occurs on the 10th of Muharram.

• Arba'een, which commemorates the suffering of the women and children of Imam Husayn's household. After Husayn was killed, they were marched over the desert, from Karbala (central Iraq) to Shaam (Damascus, Syria). Many children died of thirst and exposure along the route. Arba'een occurs on the 20th of Safar, 40 days after Ashurah.

• Milad al-Nabi, Muhammad's birth date, is celebrated by Shi'a on the 17th of Rabbi al-Awwal, which also coincides with the birth date of the sixth imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq. Sunni Muslims consider Muhammad's birth date to be on the 12th of Rabbi al-Awwal, however many Sunnis do not consider this day religiously significant.

• Mid of Shaban, the birth date of the twelfth and final imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. This is celebrated by Twelvers on the 15th of Shaban. Many Shi'a take it upon themselves to fast on this day to show gratitude on the auspicious occasion of the twelfth Imam's birth.

• Eid al-Ghadeer, which celebrates Ghadir Khum, the occasion upon which Shi'a believe Muhammad announced Ali's imamate before a multitude of Muslims. Eid al-Ghadeer is held on the 18th of Dhil-Hijjah.

• Al-Mubahila celebrates a meeting between the household of Muhammad and a Christian deputation from Najran. Al-Mubahila is held on the 24th of Dhil-Hijjah.

History of the Shi'a

Depicted: An approximate map estimation of Shi'a Muslims in the Middle East and West Asia from 1989-91. Shi'a Muslims live in many parts of the world, however they have a significant concentration of population in this particular region.

Historical Shi'a-Sunni relations

See main article: Historical Shi'a-Sunni relations

Shi'a and Sunni historians record that many Shi'as have been persecuted, intimidated, and killed, through what Shi'a consider a coup d'état against Ali's caliphate. In the past, most leading Sunni scholars are known to have openly considered the Shi'a as "Kafir" (disbelievers). This was mainly fueled by misunderstanding Shi'a concepts such as Taqiyya, Muta, and the Shi'a point of view regarding Ali, Umar, and other companions.

However, many scholars of recent history have become more tolerant towards Shi'a and some have promoted unity, others have not. Yet within Shiism, it has always been stressed to seek unity among the majority. Organizations such as the Shi'a Lebanese Hezbollah have increased popularity of Shi'a among Sunnis and are seen as a credible organization and in many cases praised by both ideological parties.

Modern mainstream Sunni have also become less confrontational. The renowned al-Azhar Theological school in Egypt, for example, one of the main centers of Sunni scholarship in the world, announced the al-Azhar Shia Fatwa on July 6, 1959:

"The Shi'a is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought."

Today, both Shi'a and Sunni students graduate and study at the Al-Azhar university.

Major centers of Shi'a scholarship

Shi'a texts

• Nahj al Balagha; the sermons and letters of Ali, compiled by Seyyed Razi ^Online
• Tafsir al-Mizan; Alternative Comentary on Quran by Allama Tabatabai
• Sahifa-e-Kamila; book of prayers by Zain-ul-Abideen, the 4rth Imam of Shi'a
• Sahifa-e-Alaviya; book of prayers by Ali, the 1st Imam of Shi'a
• Sahifa-e-Mehdi(atfs); book of prayers by the last Imam of Shi'a
• Mafatih al-janan; a collection of prayers.
• Usul al-Kafi; a collection of hadiths by Muhammad Ya'qub Kulainy
• Bihar ul Anwar; a collection of hadith by Allama Majlesi
• Peshwar Nights; the transcript of a series of discussions between Shi'a and Sunni scholars
• And Then I Was Guided - by Sayed Muhammad al-Tijani - ^Online

• List of Islamic texts

Online Shi'a references:

• The Origins and Early Development of Shi'a Islam by S.H.M. Jafri. ISBN: 0-195-79-3870 (online version)
• Imamate & Wilayat by Sayyed Muhammad Rizvi.
• What is Khums?
• Ethical Role-Models by Sayyid Mahdi as-Sadr
• The Message by Ayatullah Ja'far Subhani

Academic sources:

• Shi'a Islam by Muhammed H. Al-Tabataba'i. (online version)
• Expectation of the Millennium: Shi'Ism in History by Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
• Shi'ism Doctrines, Thought, and Spirituality by Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
• A Shi'a Anthology by William Chittick, Nasr, and Tabatabaei

See also

• Real Shi'a
• Shi'a clergy
• Imam
• Mulla Sadra
• Imamzadeh

• List of Marjas
• List of Ayatollahs
• Dawoodi Bohras
• Alevis
• Ismaili

• Fatimids
• Iraqi opposition

• Succession to Muhammad
• Misconceptions about the Shi'a
• The first four Sunni Caliphs and the Sunnah
• Historical Shi'a-Sunni relations

• Christoph Marcinkowski
• M. Ismail Marcinkowski, Religion and Politics in Iraq. Shiite Clerics between Quietism and Resistance (ISBN 9971775131).

External links

General Shi'a resource websites

• AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (aimislam.com)
• Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project (al-Islam.org)
• Bay Area Shiite-Muslims Association (baasma.us)
• Brethren of Purity Foundation (brethrenofpurity.org)
• ShiaChat: AhlulBayt Discussion Forum (shiachat.com)
• Al-Shia Website (al-shia.com)
• Al-Khoei Foundation (ahlkhoei.org)
• AlulBayt Foundation (ahlulbayt.com)
• Amiralmomenin School (makaremshirazi.org)
• Ansaar Al-Mahdi (themahdi.org)
• Answering-Ansar (answering-ansar.org)
• Dar-ul Hadith Institute (hadith.net)
• Imam Ali Foundation - London (najaaf.org)
• Imam Reza Network (imamreza.net)
• Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center, Jamaica, New York (al-khoei.org)
• Islamic Propagation Office of the Islamic Seminary of Qom (balagh.net)
• Islamic Unity Society (ius.org.uk)
• Jafria Association of North America (jana.org)
• Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Community of London (Hujjat Imambara) (hujjat.org)
• Noor Fiqh Library (noornet.net)
• Qom's Main Seminary (hawzeh.net)
• Shia Images (Shia-IMAGES.net)
• Shia News (shia-news.com)
• Shia Source (shia-source.com)
• Tafseer Al-Mizan (almizan.org)
• Teachings of Islam (shirazi.org.uk)
• The Shi'a (shia.org)
• Ya Zahra AlulBayt Global Information Center (yazahra.net)
• Al Muslimeen (almuslimeen.net)
• Shia in Indonesia (www.fatimah.org)
• Shia Website in Indonesian Language (www.geocities.com/zahranakumayl/)

Websites commemorating Shi'a Imams

• AhlulBayt Islamic Mission
• Imam Ali commemorative website (imamalinet.net)
• Quotes of Imam Ali (sufiblog.com/timeless.php)
• Imam Hussayn commemorative website(geocities.com/hussaynia/)
• In the Memory of Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (almujtaba.com)
• Islam, the Prophet and Imams from an esoteric Shi'a perspective (islamfrominside.com)

Shi'a Islam directories and encyclopedias

• Shi'a Encyclopedia
• Hawzah Yellow Pages
• List of Shi'a Ulema
• SHI'A Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai Translated By: Sayyid Husayn Nasr
• Root and branches of faith by Maqbul Hussein Rahim