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Sh'ia Islam, Shi'a (Arabic: شیعه) or Shi'ism (Arabic: شیعی) is the second largest Islamic denomination. The Shia are historically known as Shi'a of Ali (Arabic: شیعه علی) which was a title given in praise by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his descendants to the followers of the Ahlul Bayt, and in particular of Imam Ali who was Muhammad's cousin, his son-in-law, and the father of Muhammad's only descendants. Ali was the male head of the Ahlul Bayt (Muhammad's household).
Shi'a Muslims believe that the Ahlul Bayt were chosen as the best qualified teachers of Muhammad's Sunna (traditions) and that they are the best source of knowledge regarding Quran and Islam both during and after the prophet's demise after Muhammad himself. Shia's believe that Imam Ali, the male head of the Ahlul Bayt should have followed Muhammad as the direct successor and leader of the Muslims and that he was directly appointed by Muhammad on several occassions during Muhammad's life. Hereby Shias reject the rule of the three previous Caliphs who took power and believe the prophet's companions are inferior to Muhammad's family in all respects. This being in contrast to Sunni Theology, which holds that companions should be followed rather than the Ahlul Bayt. The difference of opinion regarding Caliphate and whom should be followed has caused differences in interpretation of Quranic text, acceptance of Hadith, how Shia's and Sunni's regard personalities in Islamic history and more.
Etymology
See main article: Shia 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
Shia Muslims believe that Ali, the subsequent head of the Ahlul Bayt, was appointed by Muhammad to be the next leader of the Muslims. In effect, Shia Muslims believe that to follow the true Sunna of the prophet 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 death, 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, 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. They where called rafidah since they refused to accept Abu Bakr's rule. 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 Shia 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
See Demographics of Islam. Present estimations generally stemming from the 1980s before or slightly after the Iran-Iraq War indicate that some 89% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and approximately 10% are Shi'a. However since that period governments such as that of Iran have reported a massive Baby boom and a quadrupling of its citizens.
The majority of the world's Shi'a live in the Middle Eastern region, such as in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon. Other Persian Gulf states such as Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also have significant Shi'a minorities, as do the Eastern Province and other regions of Saudi Arabia. In Asia, Azarbajijan has a majority Shi'a population and Pakistan, India, Afghanistan also hold significant Shi'a minorities.
Shi'a beliefs and practices
Shi'a beliefs
Shia do not have the
Sunni Five Pillars of Islam. Instead, they have:
Roots of Religion (Usūl al-Dīn)
- Main article: Roots of Religion
- 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)
- Main article: Branches of Religion
- 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) - 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 (Enjoin what is good)
- Nahi-Anil-Munkar (Forbid what is evil)
- Tawalla (To love the Ahl al-Bayt and their followers)
- Tabarra (To disassociate oneself from the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt)
Practices
Taqiyya
- Main article: Taqiyya
The doctrine of taqiyya, or dissimulation, states that it is permissible to hide one's true religious convictions if under the threat of death or injury. Shi'a say that this is condoned by the Qur'an in verses 16:106 and 3:28.
Nikah Mut'ah
- Main article: Nikah Mut'ah
Shi'as conclude that Nikah Mut'ah, temporary marriage or marriage for a time fixed by the initial contract, was forbidden only by the
Sunni caliph
Umar and not by
Muhammad. Shi'a say that the
Quran itself declares the arbitration of Muhammad final, decisive, and unquestionable. They argue that neither Umar, nor any other caliph, had the authority to ban what Muhammad permitted. Shi'a continue the practice of temporary marriage. However, non-Shi'a Muslims say that nikah mut'ah had been disallowed even before Umar became caliph.
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.
- Ali ibn Abu Talib (600-661)
- Hasan ibn Ali (625-669)
- Husayn ibn Ali (626-680)
- Ali ibn Husayn (658-713), also known as Zainul Abideen
- Muhammad al Baqir (676-743)
- Jafar as Sadiq (703-765)
- Musa al Kazim (745-799)
- Ali ar Ridha (765-818)
- Muhammad at Taqi (810-835)
- Ali al Hadi (827-868)
- Hasan al Askari (846-874)
- Muhammad al Mahdi (868-)
- There are several groups of Sevener Shi'as. The largest is a subgroup of the Ismailis.
- Fiver Shi'as are also called Zaidis. They are found mostly in Yemen. They accept as imams:
- Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Hasan ibn Ali
- Husayn ibn Ali
- Ali ibn Husayn
- 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 Shia Imam
in Shi'ism, the Imamate is one of the fundementals of Islam (A part of the Usul-Ad-din) and that one should follow the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt, these Imams of the Ahlul Bayt are infallible, and the perfect example and should just like the Prophets, be emulated in acts and deeds. Shia's believe that the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt carry the real responsibility of protecting and giving the example of the pure Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad after his demise and that these Imams guided the Muslims, in many times under the most horrible circumstances due to the governments cruel policies. They are seen as the Prophet's family whom were mistreated on many occassions and guided the Muslims, showed them 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
Shia Muslims believe that the study of islamic literature is a continual process, and is necessary for identifying all of God's laws. Shia Muslims believe that the process of finding God's laws from the available islamic literature will facilitate in dealing with any circumstance. Hence unlike the Sunni scholars, Shi'a scholars believe that the door to Ijtihad has never closed. They believe that they can interpret the Qur'an and the Shi'a traditions with the same authority as their predecessors. This process of ijtihad has provided a means to deal with current issues from an islamic perspective. Generally, the Shi'a clergy have exerted much more authority in the Shi'a community than have the Sunni ulema.
Most Sunni scholars, preachers, and judges (collectively known as the Sunni ulema) traditionally believe that the door of Ijtihad, or private judgment, closed some four hundred years after the death of Muhammad. Sunni Muslims consider that Sunni scholars had studied the Qur'an and hadith for centuries, during which time they developed the four schools of law (Madhhab), and that there was nothing more to be added to these four schools.
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 Shia 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.
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, Shia Muslims permit temporary marriages, or mut’a, which can be contracted for months or even days, and follow different inheritance laws.
Collections of Hadiths from shia sources include
Famous Hadith used by the Shi'a
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 Mecca, 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 Shia, 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 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
Historical Shi'a-Sunni relations
See main article:
Historical Shi'a-Sunni relations
Shia and Sunni historians record that many Shia's have been persecuted, intimidated, and killed, starting with the usurping of Alis caliphate. In the past, most leading Sunni scholars are known to have openly considered the Shi'a as "Kafir". This was mainly fueled by misunderstood concepts such as Taqiyya, Muta, and the Shia 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. Scholars such as Hassan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, Allamah Mawdudi, Shaikh Muhammed Kashak, Allamah Sheikh Muhammed al Ghazali, Sheikh Muhmud Shaltut, Professor al Bahansawi, Altalmasani, Anwar al Jundi, Hassan Ayyub, Said Hawi, Fathi Yakun, Abu Zuhrah, Yusuf al Azm, Professor Rashid al Ghannachi among others have encouraged Sunni and Shia unity. Others have not. Yet within Shiism, it has always been stressed to seek unity among the majority. Organizations such as the Shia Lebanese Hezbollah have increased popularity of Shiism 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.
Some extremist Sunni groups, however, such as the Taliban or Al Qaeda, have continued to persecute Shi'a as heretics. Salafis still consider Shias as apostates and openly advocate their killing.
Major centers of Shi'a scholarship
Shi'a 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:
See also
