Shia Islam

Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam or Shi‘ism (Arabic شيعة Template:ArabDIN), is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith after Sunni Islam, comprising 15% of the Muslim population worldwide and a much larger percentage in some countries. Shias adhere to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family (who are referred to as the Ahl al-Bayt). Unlike Sunnis, Shi'ites do not consider the first three caliphs to have been "Rightly Guided"; the fourth, Ali, was to them the first rightful caliph. The singular/adjective form is Template:ArabDIN (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 Template:ArabDIN); the others are Ismaili 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.

Etymology

An Iranian post stamp relating the Hadith of Qadeer, one of the instances which Muhammad appointed Ali. This time, prominently done shortly before his demise

An Iranian post stamp relating the Hadith of Qadeer, one of the instances which Muhammad appointed Ali. This time, prominently done shortly before his demise

Main article: Shia etymology

"Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Template:ArabDIN (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 just "followers of Ali", to claim that the Shia Muslims are the followers and believers of (Allah) the Almighty Creator of existence, His Prophets and Imams (Guides to Heaven), His Messages and the Ahlul Bayt (The Family of the House of Prophet Mohammad). 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

File:Nahj.gif

Nahj al-Balagha, one of the most cherished Shia collections

Shia Muslims believe that specific persons from Muhammad's family (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 young man to accept Islam — second only to Muhammad's wife Khadija — and the male head of the Ahl al-Bayt or "people of the [Prophet's] house") 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) 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.

Demographics

See Shia population or Demographics of Islam for details.

Map showing distribution of Shia and Sunni Muslims in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Some estimates that approximately 15% of the world's Muslims are Shia. There are an estimated 130 to 190 million Shia Muslims (including Twelvers, Ismailis, Zaydis) throughout the world, about three quarters of whom reside in Iran, Pakistan, India, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Afghanistan.

A large portion of the world's Shia live in the Middle East. They constitute a majority in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Bahrain and especially Iran, where 90% of the population is Shia, giving it the highest population of Shia Muslims of any country in the world[3]. In Lebanon Shia form a plurality, and they remain as significant minorities in Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Turkey and Yemen. Among the smaller Persian Gulf states, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also have significant Shia minorities, as does the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

About 20% of India's Muslim population is Shia, and significant Shia communities exist on the coastal regions of West Sumatra and Aceh in Indonesia (see Tabuik). Shia presence is negligible elsewhere in Southeast Asia, where Muslims are predominantly Shafi'i Sunnis.

According to the Shia, one of the lingering problems in estimating the Shia population is that unless the Shia form a significant minority in a Muslim country, the entire population is often listed as Sunni. The reverse, however, has not held true, which may contribute to imprecise estimates of the size of each sect. For example, the 1926 rise of the House of Saud in Arabia brought official discrimination against Shia . The Shia-majority areas of Al-Ahsa, Qatif and Hofuf on the Persian Gulf, and western Arabia provinces of Jazan, Asir and Hijaz, that had large Shia minorities, have officially been completely stripped of their religious identities. Some Shia claim that they endure much bigotry and other indignities from Walmen authorities daily and that Shia pilgrims from other countries are often singled out for harassment (see Status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia); in Saudi Arabia they are called accaf (عكف) which means rejecters (رافضه).

Doctrines

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
• Adalah (Justice): The Justice 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"))
• 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 — called "Roozeh" in Persian — (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 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

Main article: Additional Shia 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

Main article: Misconceptions about the Shia

See also: Shia view of the Qur'an

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; however, this refers to a group who actually lived in Ali's time and who saw him as an incarnation of God. Ali, upon learning this, had them killed (they are known as the Ghulat and have no association with the Shia). The term Shia literally means the Party. Early on, the Shia were referred to as Shiat Ali, or The Party of Ali. As the majority of Muslims at the time of Muhammed's death favoured Abu Bakr as the Caliph, a large 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 do not differ, however many schools of thought that developed later on did become differentiated. Shia Islam claims it follows the words of Muhammad as given to him through divine guidance from God in the Qur'an.

However, the Alawites, known as Nusairi, a sect of Shia Islam, 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 some that the Shia dispute the current version, an example of which their alleged interpolation of two additional surahs known as al-Nurayn and al-Wilaya. Nonetheless,many Shias claim that the accusation is false, as they believe, like Sunnis, 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
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), also known as Taki
10. Ali ibn Muhamad (827–868), also known as Ali al-Hadi, also known as Naki
11. Hasan ibn Ali (846–874), also known as Hasan al Askari
12. Muhammad ibn Hasan (868–?), also known as Hojjat ibn al Hasan

• There are 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

Main article: 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:

And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance; and establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless. [33:33]

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.

Jurisprudence

Main article: Ja'fari jurisprudence

Ja'fari jurisprudence or Ja'fari Fiqh is the name of the jurisprudence of the Shia Twelvers Muslims, derived from the name of Ja'far al-Sadiq, the 6th Shia Imam.

The Ja'ffari Shia consider Sunnah to be the oral traditions of Muhammad and their implementation and interpretation by the Imams who were all scholars and descendants of the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and her husband, the first Imam, Ali.

Role of religious scholars

Main article: The Shia clergy

Shia Muslims believe that the study of Islamic literature is a continual process, and is necessary for identifying all of God's laws. Sunni Muslims also believe that they can interpret the Qur'an and hadith with the same authority as their predecessors - that the door to ijtihad was never closed. However, the opinion of the 1st and 2nd Century (7th and 8th century Gregorian calendar) scholars Hanbali, Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafii are given greater weight.

Differences of Shia and Sunni traditions

Because Islamic law is based partly on the hadith, Shia rejection of some Sunni hadith and Sunni rejection of some Shia hadith means that the versions of the law differ somewhat. For example, while both Shia and Sunni pray five times each day, some of the prayer times differ. Shia do not believe that there is a set time for As'r and Ish'a prayers, and therefore, they are prayed togther with the Thu'hur and Mugrib prayers, respectively. Likewise, Shia do not perform prayer non obligatory prayers like Tar'raweeh, which is prayed during Ramadaan.

Also another issue of difference between the sects is that Nikah Mut‘ah or "temporary marriage" which is not forbidden for the Shia because it is found in a number of Shia traditions that the practice is permitted. There is Sahih Shia traditions which maintain that mut'ah is forbidden but these are dismissed as they contradict other narrations on mut'ah which were deemed more acceptable. Many Shia discourage the practice of Mut'ah, but maintain that it is permissible.

Supplications

The Shia have a rich collection of prayers believed to be traced back to the Shia Imams (Ali and his descendants through Muhammad's daughter). These prayers are held in a high esteem among the Shia. These prayers (dua) include:

• Supplication of Shabaniya
• Supplication of Kumail
• Supplication of The Noble Traits

Religious calendar

All Muslims, Sunni or Shia, celebrate the following annual holidays:

• Eid ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر), which marks the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan and falls on the first day of Shawwal.
• Eid ul-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah, starts on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja.

The following holidays are observed by Shia only, unless otherwise noted:

• The Festival of Muharram and Ashurah (عاشوراء) for Shia commemorates Imam Husayn bin Ali's martyrdom. Imam Husayn was grandson of prophet Mohammad, who was martyred by Yazid ibn Muawiyah, the Sunnis 6th Khalif. Ashurah is a day of deep mourning which occurs on the 10th of Muharram. Sunnis also celebrate Ashurah, but give it a different meaning (see Ashurah).
• Arba'een 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 the Shia on the 17th of Rabbi al-Awwal, which coincides with the birth date of the sixth imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq.
• Mid of Shaban is the birth date of the 12th and final imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. It is celebrated by Twelvers on the 15th of Shaban. Many Shia fast on this day to show gratitude.
• Eid al-Ghadeer celebrates Ghadir Khum, the occasion when 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 Shia-Sunni relations

Main article: Historical Shia-Sunni relations

The Shia believe that the split between the Shia and Sunni began with Muhammad's death, when some number of Muslims supported the successorship of Ali and the rest accepted Abu Bakr, then Umar and Uthman. They believe that the successorship was given to Ali at Ghadir Khum (a hadith accepted by both Sunni and Shi’a scholars), and that the testimony that can be traced back to reliable sources is to be trusted, while traditions that cannot be fully verified are suspect.

Shia and Sunni historians record that many Shia have been persecuted, intimidated, and killed, through what Shia consider a coup d'état against Ali's caliphate. Many prominent Sunni scholars are known to have openly considered the Shia as "kufar" (disbelievers). Imam Ash-Shafi'i, one of the most prominent early scholars of his time said in regards to the Shia "I have not seen among the heretics a people more famous for falsehood than the Raafidite Shi’ites." Such statements stem mainly from differences in beliefs regarding Ali, Umar, and other companions, and in the Shia's use of various concepts, such as Muta.

The renowned al-Azhar university of theology in Egypt, originally founded by the Shia during the reign of the Fatimid caliphate in 988, considers Shia philosophy to be an indivisible part of the body of Islamic jurisprudence. Today, both Sunni and Shia students graduate from the Al-Azhar university which also teaches regarding both doctrines and uses certain Shia material in its courses. (See List of Shia books). On July 6, 1959, Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot -the head of the al-Azhar Theological school- announced the al-Azhar Shia Fatwa

1) Islam does not require a Muslim to follow a particular Madh'hab (school of thought). Rather, we say: every Muslim has the right to follow one of the schools of thought which has been correctly narrated and its verdicts have been compiled in its books. And, everyone who is following such Madhahib [schools of thought] can transfer to another school, and there shall be no crime on him for doing so.

2) The Ja'fari school of thought, which is also known as "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah" (i.e., The Twelver Imami Shi'ites) is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought.

Muslims must know this, and ought to refrain from unjust prejudice to any particular school of thought, since the religion of Allah and His Divine Law (Shari'ah) was never restricted to a particular school of thought. Their jurists (Mujtahidoon) are accepted by Almighty Allah, and it is permissible to the "non-Mujtahid" to follow them and to accord with their teaching whether in worship (Ibadaat) or transactions (Mu'amilaat).

Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has made differing statments on the matter, and seems to have changed his stance on Shi'aism as he aquired more knowledge on the topic:

"Let it be known to all that the Shi`ah are Muslims who believe in the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Yes, there is no doubt that the Shi`ah have their beliefs and dogmas which we condemn as heresy but this doesn’t make them non-Muslims."

(August 17, 2006)

"He pointed out that he travelled to Iran around 8 years ago and met with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and was received enthusiastically. And he told the Shia scholars there that if there is to be a true dicussion and unity amongst us it is necessary for a number of things to be fully stopped, such as your saying that the Quran in our hands in altered and that the Mushaf Faatemah is an addition to this Quran, and the constant insults upon the Sahaabah, May Allah be plaesed with them . And it is beyond imagination that I would say Abu Bakr, Radhia Allahu Anhu, and you say, La'anahu Allah, this is totally unacceptable. Also to stop consistently talking about Ali's higher right to Khilaphah, for all them have died and the matter is finished, and that Umar bin Abdul Aziz was asked on the past conflict bewteen Ali and Muawiyah and the blood in this conflict, he said that Allah has cleansed our hands from this blood so why should we soil our tongues with it." (September 3, 2006)

Similar fatwas (promoting the acceptance of Shi'as into mainstream Islam) have not been issued by some Sunni scholars or universities. A number of contemporary Sunni scholars such as Shaykh Dr Khaalid ibn ‘Ali al-Mushayqih (who released a fatwa regarding praying with the Shia) maintain that Shia are not considered as Muslims, unless they deny certain beliefs found in a number of Shia hadith books like al-kafi that are accepted by the majority of twelver Shia:

The Shia and Sunnis differ in their view of Aisha (one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad). The Shia have a dim view of her character whereas the Sunnis consider her an exemplary woman. The differences stem primarily from her (perceived) dishonourable behaviour with the Prophet and her taking a position opposed to the fourth Caliph Ali when he was the ruler. For more details, please refer to Sunni and Shia views of Aisha.

Major centers of Shia scholarship

The three primary centers of Shia scholarship are Karbala, Najaf and Qom. Other notable centers are:

• India: Lucknow, Hyderabad
• Iran: Isfahan, Mashad, Qom, Ray,Shiraz, Tabriz,Tehran
• Iraq: Al-Mada'in, Hillah, Karbala, Kufa, Najaf, Samarra
• Lebanon: Jabal Amil Hawzah, Saida, Sur
• Saudi Arabia: Qatif, Al-Hasa, Najran
• Syria: Damascus, Halab

Notable Shia Muslims

Scholars

See also: List of Shia Islamic scholars

• Muhammad Ya'qub Kulainy
• Shaikh Saduq
• Sheikh al-Mufid
• Sayyed Murtada
• Abu Ja'far al-Tusi
• Nasir al-Din Tusi
• Baqir Majlisi
• Qazi Noor Ullah Shoostri

Contemporary Scholars

Iran

• Waheed Khorasani
• Ali Khamenei
• Fazel Lankarani
• Taqi Bahjat
• Naser Makarem Shirazi
• Ruhollah Khomeini (late)
• Morteza Motahhari (late)
• Allameh Tabatabaei (late)
• Sheikh Mirza Jawad Tabrizi (late)

Iraq

• Ali Sistani
• Bashir Hussain Najafi
• Muhammed Saeed Al-Hakeem
• Sayed Muhsin al-Hakim (late)
• Abul-Qassim Khoei (late)
• Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr (late)

See also

• Shia clergy
• Sunni Islam
• Caliph
• Islam
• List of Marjas
• List of Ayatollahs
• Alevis
• Ismaili
• Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim
• Succession to Muhammad
• Misconceptions about the Shia
• Historical Shia-Sunni relations
• List of Shia books
• List of Shia Muslims
• Shia population
• Shia Halfmoon

External links

• Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project
• Aalulbayt Global Information Center
• Shia Search Website
• Shia Imami Ismaili Nizari Muslims
• Rafed Network For Cultural Development
• SHIACODE.COM -Shia Islamic Guide
• List of Shia websites
• IslamTutor
• Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission
• AlMujtaba Islamic Network
• Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, Tehran
• Imam Ali commemorative website
• Jabal Amel--- Shia Islam in Lebanon
• Who are the Shia? by Paul Sullivan, History News Network
• Sunni-Shia agreements and similarities