INTRODUCTION
Thanks be to Allaah, His help we seek and His guidance we
search for; whomsoever Allaah permits to go astray shall never have guidance,
whomsoever Allaah
guides shall never be misled; and I bear witness that there
is no God but Allaah alone and He has no partner; and I bear witness that
Mohammed is His servant and
messenger. Peace be upon him, his family, his
companions and their followers until the day of resurrection.
Allaah
commands us in the Holy Qur`aan:
??Let there arise out of you
a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islaam), enjoining Al-ma?ruf
(i.e. Islaamic Monotheism and all that Islaam
orders one to do) and
forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islaam has
forbidden). And it is they who are the successful??
I pray to Allaah that He will
accept this work as a correct response to His commandment.
The purpose of
this pamphlet is to present a brief idea about the religious issues that the
Shee?ah scholars have disagreed upon with the majority of Muslim scholars.
It
is to acquaint especially those who have a vague picture of what the Shee?ah
school of thought is in comparison to the majority?s version of Islaam. In
short, it is to
answer the ever-rising questions. Is the disagreement vital?
And if it is vital, as a Muslim Shee?ah or following the Muslim scholars, what
should I do to find the right
Islaam and the right path to Paradise? May
Allaah bestow on us His mercy and not deprive us of His guidance.
Ameen.
BACKGROUND OF SHEE?AH
IDEOLOGIES
When Islaam came as a
guidance for mankind, the early generation of devoted Muslims sincerely worked
hard to propagate and defend it, allowing Islaam to spread
steadfastly.
However, this created a wave of anger and hatred towards Islaam from some of the
narrow minded religious figures, especially of Judaism. They plotted
to
assassinate the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) and to create discord or fighting among Muslims
(Fitnah). However, the Iman or faith of the
companions was so strong that they were not affected by such conspiracies. After
the death of many companions, some conspiracies found its way first, thru
Muslims less educated about Islaam then later on to the rest of the Muslim
Community.
During the term of the first and second Ca?lee?phah?s
(Leader of the whole Muslim nation) there were
still many companions. By the end of the third Ca?lee?phah?s reign, a great
number of the companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) had passed away, while the number of new
generation and new converts had multiplied
tremendously. At this time, the
tribalist, racist and other movements found an opportunity to come to the
surface. Among these movements was that of Abdullah Bin
Sabaa, as had been
mentioned above. He is a Yemen Jew who claimed that Ali had divine authority.
This developed further into the claim that he, his son, Al-Hassan,
his son
Al-Hussain and the descendants of the latter should be the future leaders of the
whole Muslim Ummah forever. This was, of course, contrary to the
current
practice since after the Prophet (Peace Be
Upon Him) Abu Bakr had been elected as the Caliph
(Leader) of the whole Muslim Ummah
(Nation), followed by Omar. There was as yet,
until today, no claim that Ali should be the first Ca?lee?phah?.
This
allegation however, finally found a place of acceptance in the capital of the
previously Iranian Empire, Al-Madayen, more easily than in the other regions of
the
Islaamic Empire at that time, especially since Al-Hussain, second son of
Ali, was then married to the daughter of the last Iranian Emperor.
This
is why the Shee?ah concept of the hereditary system of leadership is confined to
the descendants of Al-Husain, beginning with fourth Shiite?s Imam
(leader). The
claim that Ali should be the
first Caliph started mainly as a political ploy to create discord among Muslims
by agitating the tribal and racial differences and hostilities.
The end
result of the political claim, however, was a religious difference and deviation
from the Islaam maintained by the great majority of Muslim
scholars.
Shee?ah derive their name from Shee?ee which means in Arabic
supporter, here to mean the supporters of Ali, his sons, Hassan and Hussain, and
descendants of
Hussain. Shee?ah are divided into groups: the Zaidis, who have
deviated the least; the Ja?fari Eth?nai Ashri, the Ismailis, and the Alawi
Nusairi. Druzes derive their roots from Ismailism and Fatimid
Shee?ah.
The following pages are
devoted to the discussion of the
Ja?fari Eth?nai Ashri (Ja?fari
twelve Imams), which represents the Shee?ah majority.
HOLY Qur`aan
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholar says:
?that the number of verses in the Holy Qur`aan is
1700?. Al-Kafi by Al-Kolayni, which is believed by
Shee?ah scholars as the most
trustworthy and celebrated work of HADEETH known
in the Shee?ah world, says: ?Any human being who
claims to have collected the Qur`aan in its complete form is a
liar. Only Ali
and the Imams collected it all and preserved it?.
The Shee?ah Scholars also allow their followers to read
the existing Holy Qur`aan till they are taught their version. This permission is
based on a Shee?ah tradition which
says: I said to
Imam Ali Musa (the 8th Imam), we hear from you
Qur`aanic verses which we have not learned. Are we committing sins by not
reciting them? The Imam
said ?No, read the way you have learned. Someone will
come to teach you? (referring to the
12th Imam who will reappear and bring with him the complete version
according
to the Sheeah belief).
The Muslim scholars assure us
that Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon
Him) compiled the Holy Qur`aan in its complete, current
existing form orally and during the
C?laph?ah
(leadership) of Abu Bakr, a compilation which
was written down in a single volume.
During the C?laph?ah of Othman, the
language of the Holy Qur`aan was standardized and universalized. The approved
variations in reciting a few words of the Holy
Qur`aan do not touch its basic
meaning.
Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:
?Verily We: It is We Who
have sent down the Dhikr (Qur`aan) and surely, We will guard it (from
corruption)? ;
?It is for Us to collect and to give you (O Mohammed (Peace Be
Upon Him)) the ability to recite it? ;
?Falsehood cannot come to it from
before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise Worthy of all praise
(Allaah)?
Allaah had promised to preserve it as
a guidance for Muslims everywhere and forever. This is in contrast to the
previous divine books wherein although their original
forms are preserved
with Allaah, the ones in the hands of the followers of these messages are
distorted.
The Muslim scholars who consider the belief that the Holy
Qur`aan is adulterated is a plain rejection of the Islaamic
faith.
Brothers and sisters, you can find out for yourself that the
number of verses in the Holy Qur`aan is 6236 excluding the ?Bismillah? at the
beginning of the Suras (Chapter),
but the
Shee?ah Scholars claim that this Holy Qur`aan is not complete. Should we believe
the Ja?fari Shee?ah source or the Almighty Allaah and the Muslim
Scholars?
Perhaps some Shee?ah deny their belief that the existing Holy
Qur`aan is not complete. But this denial could be shielding
(Tuq?yah or to lie to protect the
Shee?ah
belief).
SU?N?AH OR HADEETH
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars consider SU?N?AH as what the
prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and
the Imams said. AL-Kafi by Kolayni, in Tabatabai?s words is ?the most
trustworthy and celebrated work of HADEETH in the
Shee?ah world?. In this source, the names of the
transmitters of the HADEETH are not frequently mentioned. Instead of the
?prophet said?, you find ? the Imam said?. Many of these HADEETHs contradict the Holy Qur`aan. The
prominent criterion in validating HADEETH is actually whether it supports, or at
least, does not negate the Shee?ah school of thought. The most trustworthy of
the prophet?s (Peace Be Upon
Him) traditions are the ones received through the
household of the prophet, i.e. the Shee?ah Imams, even though an Imam could pass
away while his child is only nine,eight or fyears old. For example, a HADEETH
reported by Ali and compiled by Sahih Al-Bukhari is rejected if it contradicts
thShee?ah concept of Temporary Marriage
(Nikah Mut?ah), but
if the HADEETH were supportive of the Shee?ah school of thought, it would be
accepted no matter who said, transmitted, or compiled it.
The Muslim
scholars define SU?N?AH or HADEETH as the sayings of the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him), his deeds,
tacit approvals or the description of his physical
appearance. Basically,
there are two ways of HADEETH authentication. The first is the ?Isnad?, which
means the reliability of the transmitters. Therefore, HADEETH with
broken
linkages between transmitters are rejected because there is no way to find out
how reliable the transmitters are. Second, there is ?Matn?, which means
content
of the HADEETH; that is, whether or not it contradicts the teachings
of the Holy Qur`aan, there is another version of the same HADEETH with a
different chain of
transmitters, or whether there is a stronger Isnad, etc.
Based on these methodologies and the strictness of the compiler in choosing his
HADEETH, the Muslim
scholars affirmed that the compilations of Al-Bukhari and
the Muslims are the most trustworthy source of the SU?N?AH of the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) While the
Holy Qur`aan was compiled in written form right after the death of the prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him), the
serious compilation of the HADEETH took place after almost 100 years.
There were many reasons for this
delay, the major one being that a great proportion of HADEETH dealt with
detailed teachings which should be practiced by a true
Muslim in his daily
life. The companions were actually living compilations of HADEETH because they
were representing the prophetic manners themselves. Therefore,
there seemed
to be no urgent need for serious efforts towards a written compilation.
Furthermore, some great Companions were of the opinion that the teaching
of
Islaam should be focused first in the Holy Qur`aan so that it would be
well-established. This was to avoid what had happened to previous Holy Books in
which divine
words were mixed up with prophetic sayings.
So brothers
and sisters, which definition of HADEETH is more accurate, given the fact that
Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon
Him) is the seal of the Prophets? As God says in the
Holy Qur`aan:
?Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the prophets...?
Only the Prophets and the
messengers of Allaah can receive revelation which is binding unto whom the
messenger is sent. When the Shee?ah scholars equate the
sayings of the Imams
to the sayings of the Prophet, they are claiming that the Imam also received
revelation. If these scholars claim that the Imams were only inspired,
then
the inspiration is a different story. It is not binding to be followed or to be
enforced on others nor should it be shared by other human beings.
IJMA? (CONSENSUS OR
SEMI-CONSENSUS)
Shee?ah scholars
have a double standard position concerning Ijma?. On the one hand, the Shee?ah
scholars employ consensus to support their arguments, e.g.
Tabatabai
writes ?... Both Sunni and Shee?ee clearly
asserted...? and ?which
were acclaimed by all...? And on the other, Ijma? is
rejected by Shee?ah scholars who:
Claim that thousands of the Prophet?s (Peace Be Upon Him) companions had plotted against the Prophet?s commands and only less than ten of them remained truthful, thereby taking knowledge from these against the majority.
Consider the millions of Muslim scholars throughout the Islaamic history and the globe as non-believers because they don?t believe in the I?ma?mah as an article of faith, one which is based on claims rejected by the majority.
Question the authenticity of the Holy Qur`aan and the HADEETHs authenticated by the majority including the interpretations which gained the
acknowledgment of the same.
Muslim scholars consider Ijma? as
the third major source of Islaamic teachings. When nothing is directly mentioned
in the Holy Qur`aan or the SU?N?AH about the case,
then the Ijma? is
considered as a valid source. The most authentic text is the one reported by a
large group of transmitters to another large group. This is called
?Tawatur?.
The most valid interpretation of the SU?N?AH/HADEETHS is that which gains the
approval of Ijma?.
For Allaah says in the Holy
Qur`aan:
?And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah
(i.e. this Qur`aan), and be not divided among
yourselves?.
Condemning deviation, Allaah, addressing the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and
referring to those who deviated from the right path, says:
?Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects
(all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)) have no
concern
in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allaah, Who then will
tell them what they used to do?
The Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him)
said: ?...stick to the Jama?ah (Majority)
and avoid division. Satan is with the one person alone but is more likely to
avoid the two together, whosoever wants abundance in Paradise should stick to
the Jama?ah...?. Jama?ah and consensus
here is referring to the majority of Muslim scholars who are knowledgeable about
the commandments of Allaah. In another HADEETH, the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him)
said: ?My Ummah will not have consensus
on what is wrong?. The Prophet (Peace Be
Upon Him) also said: ?...My Ummah will be
divided into seventy three groups. Only one of them shall be saved and the rest
shall be in hellfire?. When he was
asked which group is to be saved, he responded: ?The followers of my path and my
Companions?. In another version of the same HADEETH he responded: ?They are the Jama?ah?.
Brothers and sisters, don?t you think that consistency is
one of the crucial elements of any valid measurement and a tool of an objective
argument? Don?t you think it is
suspicious if a person employs an argument
when it supports his biases and rejects the same once it refutes them? Think
about it. Let us assume that you as Muslims
want to know which path leads to
paradise. A group of people you don?t know anything about claimed that they know
which path leads to it. However, one among this
group gave you a direction
which contradicts the directions of the rest of the group, numbering no less
than eleven people. Both descriptions seemed to be equally
reasonable, which
direction should you now follow? What if you came to know that if you do not
know this person?s direction or if you disagree with him he will hate
you,
but the others won?t? For Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:
? there is no compulsion in
religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path.
Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (anything
worshipped other than the Real God
?Allaah?) and believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy
handhold that will never break
and Allaah is all-Hearer, all Knower?
Brothers and Sisters, just
think about it as a basic rule. There are three categories of issues upon which
scholars differ and they are as follows:
The Majority had confirmed it as the right one but had not definitely rejected it as wrong.
The majority had not approved of it as the right one but had not definitely rejected it as wrong either.
The Majority had rejected it as definitely wrong.
The
crucial differences between the Muslim and the Shee?ah scholars are contained in
the last category.
Brothers and sisters,
remember that there is a great deal of difference between the ?majority of
Muslims? which is not a sufficient evidence and the ?majority of
Muslims
scholars? which is what is meant here by Ijma?.
Our Dears let
us remember that Allaah had warned us against deviating from His straight path.
He says in the Holy Qur`aan:
?And verily, this is my
Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will
separate you away from His path.
This He has ordained for you that you may
become Al-Muttaqun (the pious )?.
ARTICLES OF FAITH AND
PILLARS OF Islaam
The Ja?fari
Shee?ah scholars say that believing in a hereditary system of leadership of the
whole MuslimUmmah (I?ma?mah) is as fundamental as bin oneGod. To them,
I?ma?mah is an
article of faith and a pillar of Islaam. In addition, among the articles
referred to the constitution and the other Shee?ah sources, there is no mention
of
believing in the angels or divine
destiny(Al-Qader).
Muslim scholars
affirm that there is no such thing as I?ma?mah, an alleged hereditary system of
leadership of the whole Muslim Ummah in Islaam. There are evidences in the Holy
Qur`aan and the reliable SU?N?AH that even refute and reject this concept. In
the Holy Qur`aan, Allaah says:
?...and who (conduct) their (Muslim) affairs by mutual consultation...?
And the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) was commanded:
?"...and consult them in the
affairs...?."
The Muslim scholars believe
that Islaam is built on five pillars: Testifying that there is no God but Allaah
and Mohammed is His messenger, performing prayers, paying
charity, fasting in
the month of Ramadan and making the pilgrimage to the house of Allaah.
Furthermore, they believe that the fundamental articles of Iman are:
To
believe in Allaah, His Angles, His Books, His Messengers, the last Day and
to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof. If you read
the whole
Holy Qur`aan you will not find any support for the ?I?ma?mah concept?, the alleged
hereditary system of leadership of the whole Muslim Ummah.
Brothers and
sisters, should we believe the majority of Muslim scholars who are supported
clearly by the Holy Qur`aan verses and reliable HADEETHs, or the few
Shee?ah
scholars whose opinions are not sanctioned by the Holy Qur`aan or the reliable
HADEETHs? Make sure that our sole intention is to please Allaah only and
to
find truth for our salvation in this world and in the hereafter. Let us,
remember that Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:
?O you who believe! Believe
in Allaah, and His Messenger (Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him)), and the Book (the
Qur`aan) which
He has sent down to His Messenger, and the Scripture which He
sent down to those before (him), and whosoever disbelieves in Allaah,
His
Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed he has strayed
far away?.
SHEE?AH CONCEPT OF
I?MA?MAH
The Shee?ah scholars
believe that the Immate concept is an article of faith equal to believing in one
God. I?ma?mah concept means that the spiritual, religious,
educational and
political leadership of the whole Muslim Ummah is a matter of inheritance
confined to only twelve Imams. These are the husband of the youngest
daughter
of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him), Fatima, her two sons and some of the descendants
of her second sons, Husain, who was married to the Persian
emperor?s
daughter.
This religious and political leadership could be inherited by a
nine, eight or five year-old boy. For example, the constitution of the Republic
of Iran states that: ?... the
official religion of
Iran is the Ja?fari Eth?nai Ashri and this article is unchangeable
forever?.
First of all, this belief is bound
with the belief that these Imams are infallible and share with Allaah the power
of knowing the unseen including the knowledge as to
when the Imams would die.
They believe that obedience to these Imams should be unquestionable -
?even the worship of God becomes unnecessary if this
is the
Imam?s order?. In Khomeini?s words, it
says: ? We cannot imagine that the Imams can make
mistake?. Also the I?ma?mah is interwoven with the
belief that ?the spiritual
status of the Imam is universal viceregency.
It is a viceregency pertaining to the whole creation,
by virtue of which all atoms in the universe humble themselves before
the
holder of this authority. It is one of the essential beliefs of our Shee?ah
school that no one can attain the spiritual status of the Imams, not even the
angels of the
highest rank or messengers of Allaah?. On the other hand, the concept is inherent in the Shee?ah belief
that all Muslim Ca?lee?phahs (leaders of the whole
Muslim
nation), rulers and judges are taghoots
(evil ones) if they are not Shee?ah or of the
twelve Imams. Therefore the constitution of Iran made sure that only an Ithna
Ashari
Ja?afari Shee?ah can be president. and the ?national legislative
council shall not enact laws that contradict the principles and jurisprudence of
the official sect of the
state?. The twelfth Shee?ah Imam is believed to have
been born in 868 A. D. and is still alive (now even after
eleven centuries) but disappeared when he was 5 years
old.
He will reappear and the current Republic of Iran will be dissolved for him to
take the leadership.
The Muslim scholars regard monarchy questionable
where only the political power is inherited. Therefore, they reject completely
any form of monarchy in which even
the religious and the spiritual leadership
is inherited, unless there is clear evidence in the Holy Qur`aan or the reliable
SU?N?AH of the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) that
supports this claim. Not only is there no
such evidence, but also the concept of I?ma?mah contradicts the principle of the
consultation emphasized by the Holy Qur`aan.
Allaah, commanding the Prophet,
says:
?.......and consult them in affairs.........?,
And praising the believers says:
? ....... and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation.......?.
The Muslim scholars also affirm
that complete infallibility is an attribute of Allaah alone and no creature
shares it with Him. Even the infallibility of the prophets is limited
to
conveying their messages truly and in avoiding cardinal sins or disobedience to
Allaah. For example, Allaah addressing the Prophet says: ?The Prophet (Pease Be Upon Him)
frowned and turned away because a blind man came to him
(interrupting)?. The
Holy Qur`aan assures us that even the best creature on earth does not share with
Allaah the attributes of infallibility. Concerning the knowledge of the unseen,
Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:
?I (Mohammed (Peace Be Upon
Him)) have no power over any good or harm to my self except as God (Allaah)
wills,
if I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good,
and no evil should have touched me...?
Muslim scholars consider those
who believe that some human beings are better than the messengers of Allaah as
kaferon (unbelievers), let alone those who
claim
that some creatures share with Allaah His unique attributes or that
obedience to these creatures is more important than to the Creator. The concept
of the still alive 12th
Shee?ah Imam is a myth which should not be believed,
let alone build a whole system of an Islaamic government on it. Al-tabari
assured us that the 11th Imam had no
offspring?s at all.
There are
very few HADEETHs compiled by Termithy and Abu Dawood mentioning the appearance
of Al-Mahdi among the signs of the Day of Resurrection. These
HADEETHs say
that he will have a name similar to the Prophet?s (Muhammed
(Peace Be Upon Him)) and his
father?s name will be similar to the Prophet?s
father
(Abdullah), not Hassan the 11th
Imam?s name. He will be from the descendants of the first grandson of the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) but not from the
second
grandson?s progeny. Furthermore, there is no evidence that such a
person will live twelve centuries.
Brothers and Sisters, the Shee?ah scholars consider the I?ma?mah concept as an article
of faith equal to believing in Allaah. That is,
if you don?t believe this, then by
their
definition you could be a Kafer
(unbeliever), God
forbid. On the other hand, if you believe such with all its implications and
dimensions you could be a Kafer by
the definition of the scholars whose
loyalty is only to Allaah and the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him), not for a special dynasty or race. Make sure that
you choose the right
path to paradise.
FAMILY OF THE
PROPHET (Peace
Be Upon Him)
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars confine
?Family of the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him)? to the youngest
daughter of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him), Fatima ,
his cousin
Ali - husband of Fatima, the first grandson and the second grandson (who married
the last Iranian emperor?s daughter, then Shahrbanoo) and the
eight
descendants of the second grandson from his Persian wife. Khomeini said: ?It isone of the
essential beliefs of Shee?ah school that no one can attain the spiritual
status
of Imam (Ali and his descendants), not ethe close angels or the
prophets who are also messengers of God?. Shee?ah
scholars believe that the leadership ofthe whole
Muslim Ummah is confined
only to the twelve Imams. Therefore they neglect the accomplishments and the
virtues of or cast cardinal accusations against the rest of the
prophet?s
(Peace Be Upon Him) family and
Companions, unless they are proven to the Shee?ah scholars to have demonstrated
strong support to Ali. (This can be
further
corroborated by reading any of the Shee?ah sources in Islaamic
history, for example Tabatabai, Ali Shariati, Ibn Abi al-hadid,
etc.).
The Muslim scholars
consider ?Ahl-al Bait? the family of the Prophet (Peace
Be Upon Him) as all his relatives who cannot receive
charity. This includes the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him), Ali, Aqil, Abbas and their posterity, the wives
of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) are members of his family, Allaah Says in the Holy
Qur`aan:
?And stay in your houses and
do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform
regular prayers (As-Salat), and give
charity (Zakat) , and obey Allaah and
his Messenger. Allaah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs ( evil deeds and sin, ect.)
from you, O members of the
family of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him),, and to
purify you with a thorough purification.?
Not only that, but all the Prophet?s wives are the mothers of the believers, Allaah Says in the Holy Qur`aan:
? The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves, and his wives are their (believers?) mothers (as regards respect and marriage).......?.
The majority of the Muslim
scholars consider those who believe that some human beings are better than the
Prophets as Kafir (unbeliever). Muslim
scholars hold
respect for the whole family of the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) in
general.
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him), in a HADEETH reported by Muslim while commanding
Muslims to stick to the Holy Qur`aan as a source of guidance, also asked
them
to be kind to his family. Muslim scholars also preserved a high status
for all the Companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him), the chosen soldiers of Islaam.
Brothers
and Sisters, being Muslims, could we really neglect the other daughters of the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him),
his relatives and their descendants who were
excellent Muslims? Could we
confine the family of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) to just a few ones as selected by Shee?ah
Scholars? Could we really love only a few and curse the other tens of thousands
of the early generation of Islaam? What about Othman, who was married to the two
daughters of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) and had a son from one of them? What about the
descendants of Hassan , the eldest grandson of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)?
Don?t you think Ali and his pious descendants would be among the first to
condemn these concepts of the Shee?ah scholars?
COMPANIONS OF THE
PROPHET
The Ja?fari Shee?ah
scholars claim that the first and the second guided Ca?lee?phahs, Abu Bakr and
Omar plotted against Islaam and tried to eliminate the HADEETH so
that they
could interpret the Holy Qur`aan in such a way as to serve their purposes. The
Shee?ah scholars also claim that the three first guided Ca?lee?phahs ?Broke
their
covenant with the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) and changed his SU?N?AH?. They divide the
thousands of the Prophet?s companions into three categories;
The Companions whom the Shee?ah scholars like, who are less than ten.
The worst elements (among these was Abdullah bin Omar who reported numerous true HADEETHs).
Those who sold their Honors (among these were Abu Hurayra, Abu Darda and Abu Musal-Ashaari. All reported many true HADEETHs).
One of the official newspapers
then, after describing the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) as having singled out his son-in-law unjustly with
special parts of the Islaamic
Message, assures that ?most of the Prophet?s (Peace Be Upon
Him) generation did not have a clear picture even of
the religious issues that the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) had practiced hundreds of times before their eyes
and within reach of their hearing. Specifically, a
Shee?ah scholar mentions ?... Abdul Rahman Ibn Ouf,
a
worshipper of money; the aristocrat, Othman; the careless Khalid Ibn Walid;
and Saied Ibn Vaqas, as a man without piety?.
The Muslim scholars say that the great companions are
trustworthy and are reliable sources - all of them deserve high respect. Allaah
has praised the great
Companions in the Holy Qur`aan saying:
?You are the best of
peoples?. ?The Vanguard (of Islaam), the first who forsook their homes
(Al-Muhajirin) and of those who gave them aid
(Al-Ansar) and also who follow
them in all good deeds. Allaah is pleased with them as they are with Him. For
them He prepared gardens under
which rivers flow to dwell therein forever?.;
?Mohammed is the Apostle of God and those who are with each other. You see them
bow and prostrate
themselves (in prayer) seeking grace from God and (His)
good pleasure. On their faces are the marks being the traces of their
prostration...?
In a reliable HADEETH the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) said:
?The best of my followers are those
living in my century?.
The
Muslim scholars have no doubt that the Prophet (Peace Be
Upon Him) conveyed his message without any
discrimination or bias for his son-in-law or any one else of
the companions.
The great Companions were in general, more knowledgeable about the Islaamic
teachings. Among the non-relatives of the prophet (Peace
Be Upon Him), there were many who were more
knowledgeable than Ali or the other relatives of the
Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him), in
spite of the HADEETH forged by Shee?ah
scholars.
Among those
Companions who have been slandered by the Shee?ah scholars are those who have
been told that they were the people of paradise. Among them also
are those to
whom the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) said: ?May
my mother and father be sacrificed for you? or that the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon
Him) is from
them and they
are from him.
Among those companions there are hundreds about whom the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
said: ?None loves them but a believer and non hates them but a hypocrite?.
Certainly, the blind, biased and exaggerated love are excluded. For these kinds
of ?Love? should rather be identified as hatred. If there were disagreements
among a few Companions based on a difference of legal opinions
(Ijtehad), we should not indulge in judging
their personal deeds, for Allaah condemns such acts; i.e. latter ones judging
the deeds of the earlier ones.
In the Holy Qur`aan it says:
?That was a nation who has
passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned,
and you of
what you earned, And you will not be asked of what they used to
do??
Brothers and sisters, do you
believe Allaah who plainly states that He is pleased with the Companions of the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) or
the Shee?ah scholars who honor just a few Companions and curse and accuse
thousands of others. Be sure to find the right way to paradise and not function
unintentionally as an agent of the enemies of Islaam who are trying to destroy
the Holy Qur`aan and the HADEETH. Remember that Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal said: ?If
you see a person accusing the
companions of the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him), you have
the right to doubt his Islaam?.
Rahwaih and Imam Malik gave the verdict
that whosoever accuses the companions should be punished. Ibn Taymiyah and Razi
said: ?Whoever questions the good
faith of the companions is ?Zindeeq? and
unbeliever?.
Ibn Hajar Al-Haithami and Imam Shaifee are of the opinion,
that whoever hates the companions is an unbeliever. Al-gadi abu Ya?ala concluded
that the majority of
Muslim scholars have made a consensus that whoever
disgraces and accuses a Companion believing that the Companion deserves
disgracing becomes a Kafer
(unbeliever) but
if he does not believe that the companion deserves it then he committed a
serious sin (a Faseq).
TUQ?YAH (SHIELDING)
The Ja?afari scholars say that:
?TUQ?YAH compriseninetenths of the religion of Allaah
and whoever does not use TUQ?YAH has no religion. TUQ?YAH is to be used
in
everything except in declaring the prohibition of wine and the rubbing of
socks in wudu?. TUQ?YAH means to pretend by doing or
saying exactly the opposite of what you believe or feel, e.g. to pretend to be
nice while cursing theperson in the heart without a present danger.
The
specific purpose of TUQ?YAH is the ?preservation of
Islaam and the Shee?ah school of thought; if the people had not resorted to it,
our school would have been
destroyed?, i.e., to
the Shee?ah scholars, TUQ?YAH could be used with non-Shee?ah, including Muslims,
to preserve the Shee?ah Faith. The prominent Shee?ah scholar Tabatabai says that
Shee?ah TUQ?YAH is based on the verses from the Holy Qur`aan that say:
?Let not the believers take
the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers,
and whoever does that will never be
helped by Allaah in any way, except you
indeed fear a danger from them...?.; ?Whoever disbelieved in Allaah after his
belief, except him who is
forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with
Faith...?
The Holy Qur`aan also assures us
that pretending to believe differently from what is in our hearts is the
distinguished characteristic of hypocrites and it condemns that.
Allaah says
in the Holy Qur`aan:
?And when they meet those
who believe they say ?We believe?. But when they are alone with their
Shaytan (devil - polytheist, hypocrites, etc.), they say: ?Truly we are with
you... ?
Allaah also says:
?Lo! you are the ones who
love them but they love you not, and you believe in all the Scriptures [i.e. you
believe in the Taurat(Torah) and the
Injeel(Gospel), while they disbelieve in
your Book, the Qur`aan]. And when they meet you, they say, ?We believe?. But
when they are alone, they bite
the tips of their fingers at you in rage. Say:
?Perish in your rage. Certainly, Allaah knows what is in the breast (all the
secrets).?
Therefore, Allaah has prepared for the
hypocrites severe punishment. ?They shall be in the lowest depths of the
fire, no helpers will you find for them?. So
Muslim scholars
consider that pretending the opposite of what you hide is lying, which is a form
of hypocrisy, for the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) said: ?The
signs of a hypocrite are three: whenever he speaks he tells a lie, when ever he
promises he always breaks it and he abuses the trust given to
him...? The basic rule therefore, is
that pretending one thing and hiding another is hypocrisy and is condemned by
the Islaamic teachings. The case mentioned in chapter 3 verse 28 of the Qur`aan
above is applicable in the case of non-believers ONLY under special cases, i.e.,
a Muslim cannot apply it against a Muslim. Chapter 16 verse 106 of the Holy
Qur`aan is applicable only when a Muslim faces a situation similar to the
situation of the great Companion Ammar when he had to choose between dying under
torture like his parents pretending to be unbeliever by tongue. These cases are
not the basic rule but rather exceptions, let alone the basis for nine-tenths of
the Islaamic religion. Brothers and sisters, give it a thought - what would
happen if Muslims were to believe that nine-tenths of the whole religion lies in
TUQ?YAH? Which is means that pretending what is different from our true belief
and feelings is nine times as important as all the Islaamic teachings? Could you
ever trust a Muslim if this were the cas e? Can we really take our guidance and
religious knowledge from scholars who believe that deception is nine-tenths of
his religion? Is it right to accept his non-religious views as representing the
truth? If a person considers lying about Allaah, His Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) and the
Muslims as essential part of his beliefs in order to serve his biased goals, can
we trust him? Therefore, if you really want success in the hereafter or in the
eternal life, be cautious of the many arguments of Shee?ah scholars which are
based on distorted or forged quotations and references.
Our Dears let us
remember that chapter 3 verse 28 of the Holy Qur`aan is not only an exception,
but rather a restricted exception. Not only is it forbidden to be
used
against Muslims but it also prohibits us to lie upon others. It means
that if you oppose certain behaviors and you are in a situation where admission
would endanger
Islaam or the Muslim community, you may choose to remain
silent but you must avoid lying.
MUT?AH - TEMPORARY
MARRIAGE
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars claim that Mut?ah or
temporary marriage is NOT forbidden because it was practiced during the
Prophet?s time. Only Omar forbade it.
Now, let
us discover what the Muslim scholars say:
The purpose of Mut?ah is to
fulfill a physical need only; there is no divorce and the two partners do not
inherit each other. The
Muslim scholars say that: The Holy Qur`aan had
established the legal forms of relationship between male and female
and
confined it into two types: the marriage in which the main reason is
multiplication and the other being mutual relationship and
possession. The
Holy Qur`aan says:
?And those who guard their
chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). Except from their wives
or (the captives and
the slaves) that their right hands posses, - for then,
they are free from blames?.
These two legal forms Islaamic marriage were also confirmed in the Holy Qur`aan:
?Also (forbidden are) women
already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom you right hands
possess. Thus has Allaah ordained for you. All
others are lawful, provided
you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his
wife at the time of marriage) from your
property, desiring chastity, not
committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed
sexual relations, give them their Mahr is
prescribed, you agree mutually (to
give more), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allaah is Ever All-Knowing,
All-Wise?. ?And whoever of you have not the
means wherewith to wed free,
believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those (captives and
slaves) whom your right possess, and
Allaah has full knowledge about your
Faith, you are on from another. Wed them with permission of their own folk
(guardians, Auliya or masters) and
give their Mahr according to what is
reasonable; they (the above said captive and slave-girls) should be chaste, not
adulterous, nor taking boy friends.
And after they have been taken in wed
folk, if they commit illegal sexual intercourse, their punishment is half that
for free (unmarried) women. This is for
him among you who is afraid of being
harmed in his religion or in his body; but it is better for you that you
practice self-restraint, and Allaah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful?
In which the laws of marriage were
detailed. The Muslims scholars confirmed that the meaning of ?Istam?tum? is
referring to the enjoyment as part of the duties of
the legal forms of
marriage between a man and his wife. This part of the verse is spelling out the
right of a wife to a Mahr (marriage gift).
This is clearly
demonstrated by a HADEETH using the same word ?Istamta?ta? in
its single form.
Mut?ah was permitted under severe circumstances during
?jihad? time, but it was always prohibited immediately after the need for it
vanished. When it was
permitted for the last time, its prohibitions after
that was final. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) said : ?I
have given you permission to contract ?temporary
marriage? with women, but
Allaah has forbidden it ?till the day of resurrection?. So the permissions were actually only occasional exceptions from
the origirule
set in the Qur`aan and were made by the prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) who had the
authority; and the exceptions were not left open but were closed by the
above
HADEETH forever.
Later on, Ca?lee?phah Omar came to kAmru bin
Huraith was practicing Mut?ah and so he announced: ?Verily Allaah made
permissible for his messenger (Peace Be Upon
Him) whatever he likes and as he liked it. And thereof
the Holy Qur`aan had been completed. So complete Hajj and Umra for Allaah had
commanded
you and confirm by proper conditions the marriage of those women
(with whom you have performed Mut?ah). And any
person who would come to me with a
marriage of fixed duration
(Mut?ah), I would stone him to death
(which is the penalty for committing fornication by a
previously married person).?
Brothers and sisters, is
there any difference between a woman lending her body for a few minutes as in
prostitution or for a few days or months as in Mut?ah,
since both are
temporary? Don?t you think that the permission of Mut?ah today would humiliate
our sisters, open the doors for playmates and finally destroy the
concept of
family in Islaam? Remember the Shee?ah scholars of high status rarely allow
their female relatives to practice Mut?ah in order to avoid humiliation.
In
fact the Mut?ah permitted occasionally before its final prohibitions did
not require the female to be a Muslim or even one from the people of the book
which
makes it completely distinguished from marriage. How could a Muslim
legalize such a type of illegal relationship for Muslims or practice it himself?
What is the
difference between fornication today and Mut?ah in terms of their
purposes? Aren?t both to satisfy the sexual desires alone?.
GHADEER KHU?M
Tabatabai said: ?For Shee?ah, the central evidence of Ali?s legitimacy as
successor to the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) is the evidence of
Ghadeer Khu?m when
the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) chose Ali to the
?general guardianship?. Referring to a booklet
devoted to the details of Ghadeer Khu?m, we find the following:
More than 100,000 Companions attended the Ghadeer Khu?m address.
It took place on the 18th of the
Thul Hijja after the ?bidding farewell? pilgrimage of the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him). The
reason the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
made this address at this place was
because Allaah revealed this verse at Ghadeer Khu?m: ?O apostle, deliver what
has been revealed to you from your
Lord; and if you do not do it then you
have not delivered His message; and Allaah will protect you from the
people?.
Therefore, the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) made
these announcements: That he was leaving for Muslims two most precious things:
?One is the book of God;
One end of which is in the hands of God and the
other is in your hands. And the second valuable thing is my descendants?. ?God
has informed me that both of
these things will never separate from each
other till they reach me at the Fountain of Kausar?.
Taking Ali?s hand and raising it he said, ?of whomsoever I am master (mawla), Ali is his master or mawla too?.
The Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) also
said: ?O my God, be a friend of his who is a friend of Ali and treat him like
a foe he who opposes Ali. Help them who help
Ali and abandon them who go
against Ali?.
And he said: ?O my lord, whichever way Ali turns orient the right in the same direction?.
Now, let us discover what the
Muslim scholars say:
According to Shee?ah sources, only a
handful of Companions (less that 10 at a
maximum) did not break their covenant with the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him). The
100,000 companions who heard the address plotted to deprive Ali of his right
to be the successor of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him). What is the probability of this to have
happened? For what benefit would this overwhelming majority do that? If you
read the non-Shee?ah sources,
you will find no reason at all.
The Ghadeer Khu?m address took place on the 18th of Thul Hijja month, the same year as the Prophet?s (Peace Be Upon Him) ?bidding farewell? pilgrimage. On the 9th of the same month the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) received the last verse which says: ?This day I have perfected your religion, completed my favors upon you and I have chosen Islaam to be your religion?. How could a verse which asks the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) to convey the message follow this concluding verse, especially after the crowd of the ?bidding farewell? sermon (on the 9th of Thul Hijja) had already attested the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and conveyed the message? As a matter of fact, chapter 5 verse 67 of the Qur`aan was revealed before the Khaibar expedition, the conquest of Mecca and the ?bidding farewell? pilgrimage.
The acclaimed announcement of the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
in the way and context that the Shee?ah scholars mentioned was a blatant lie,
as Ibn Taymiyah
emphasized:
"The authenticated original Hadeeth of ?two most precious things? (al-Thaqalayn) says: ?I am leaving among you two valuable things : the first one being the book of Allaah in which there is the right guidance and light, so hold fast to the book of Allaah and adhere to it?. He extorted us (Zaid Ibn al-Arqam said) to hold fast to the book of Allaah and then said the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) : ?The second are the members of my household. I remind you to observe Allaah in treating them?. The household of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) as was previously explained includes all his wives, Ali, Ageel, Ja?far, Abbas and their offsprings. Did the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) say stick to my family as you stick to the Holy Qur`aan? Certainly he did not. He asked muslims to be kind to all his household, not just Ali or the 12 Imams of the Shee?ah scholars. If the HADEETH indicates any special power or privilege for his household, then we should praise the Abasid Ca?lee?phahs, the offspring of Abbas. Why then do the Shee?ah scholars curse them instead?"
The last part of the claimed HADEETH
?is also a lie?, Ibn Taymiyah assured, whether the Prophet?s (Peace Be Upon
Him) said: ?of whomsoever I am ?mawla?, Ali is his ?mawla? or not?. Ibn
Taymiyah assured us that it is definitely rejected in this context and the
majority of HADEETH scientists rejected it completely. Assuming that the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
uttered it, what then is special about it?? The Holy Qur`aan, addressing the
Prophet says: ? Allaah is his mawla, so is Gabriel and so are the righteous
believers?. The righteous believers are certainly not the master of the
prophet but friends and supporters. If the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him)had
said: ?of whomsoever I am ?wali?, Ali is his ?wali?, then it would have
probably meant master or guardian. Furthermore, the prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) did not say that Ali was to be ?mawla? or ?wali? after his death. The
argument of the Shee?ah scholars seem to be nonsense, especially when we read
the authenticated HADEETH indicating the prophet?s
(Peace Be Upon Him)
?suggestions? for Abu Bakr, Omar and Othman as his respective successors
(successively). (Bukhari and Muslim,
chapters on the virtues of these three).
The HADEETH scientists consider this
statement claimed by Shee?ah scholars as a lie. Even by glancing at its
meaning, it does not indicate any special
advantage to Ali. The Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) had
prayed for many believers all sorts of prayers on various
occasions.
Just by glancing at this statement,
a Muslim is quick to recognize that the statement is a blatant lie which was
forged without even giving it any thought. What is
this ?right?
(Haqq) which follows the decisions that Ali
makes, opinions that he gives, and the whims that come to his mind? If the lie
were to say: ?direct Ali to
follow the right
(Haqq) wherever right is? then it would seem
to be logical.
Nevertheless, Tabatabai, arguing the
necessity of the hereditary system of C?laph?ah, said: ?the enemies of Islaam
who did everything possible to destroy it
thought that since the protector of
Islaam was the Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him), after his death, Islaam would be left without a
guide and leader and would thus
definitely perish. But in Ghadeer Khu?m,
their wishewere brought to naught and the Prophet (Peace
Be Upon Him) presented Ali as a guide and leader of
Islaam to
the people. After Ali, this burdensome and necessary duty of guide
and leader was left upon the shoulder of his family?. Tabatabai, the recent
prominent
Shee?ah scholar contradicts himselfinthe same book. In the first
pages, he describes the Imam including Ali as helpless and being oppressed by
the muslim
Ca?lee?phahs and in this argument says that Allaah has chthem to
protect Islaam as well as guide and lead the Muslim Ummah. If they could not
protect
themselves, how could they ever protect Islaam and lead the Muslim
Ummah? Or is this an indirect accusation that Allaah did not make the right
choice (may
Allaah forgive me(Peace
Be Upon Him). Indeed, the Shee?ah scholars, to argue
their bias, did not mind accusing the Prophet (Peace Be
Upon Him) and the great soldier of Islaam as being
unfair and of being disloyal. Even their Imams were accused of being cowards to
the degree that they considered pretense and lying (TUQ?YAH) as nine-tenths of
the religion.
A Shee?ah scholar claimed that Ali said : ?The Ca?lee?phahs
before me did things which consciously went against the dictates of the holy
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) of
Allaah. They broke their covenant with him and changed his SU?N?AH?. Now if I
force the people to give up those things and restore the affairs as they
had
been in the days of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), my army will be scattered
away from me, leaving me alone and helpless.... In short, if I try to make
the
people follow the commands of Allaah and His Holy Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him), they will
leave me and wander away?. Ali, a great warrior of Islaam and an
excellent
Muslim is described here as if he believed that worldly power was better than to
teach true Islaam. He is afraid of becoming alone! Blind bias can
cause more
than that. Instead of praising the beloved, the extreme bias leads to casting
cardinal accusations unwittingly. As Ibn Taymiyah indeed puts it: ?The
worst
calamity to hit the Shee?ah Imams was to have such scholars as their
supporters?.
CONCLUSION
Finally and in brief, because of
the lack of reasonable evidences in the Holy Qur`aan and the SUNNAH of the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
that support the claims
of the Shee?ah scholars, they usually resort to the
following techniques to rationalize their biased versions of Islaam as
follows:
Claiming that the Holy Qur`aan is
not complete and is corrupted. This allegation, although denied or excluded by
the Shee?ah scholars in their public propagation
of Shee?ahism, still
exists in their most trustworthy sources.
Inventing many ?HADEETHs? or
distorting the context or content of the prophet?s HADEETH. This is either
used as a complimentary means to falsify the Holy
Qur`aan verses or to
independently argue bias.
Inventing or adulterating the
context or content of the historical events and stories to use them in
corrupting the meanings of the Holy Qur`aan or the SU?N?AH? of
the Prophet
(Peace Be Upon
Him)
Filtering these corruption into the
non-Shee?ah scholars? works in order to use them later in supporting their
claims. These are cited even if they were refuted or
just recorded
indiscriminately to include all information's available for purposes of the
total record.
Brothers and sisters, the cornerstone
of the Shee?ah faith claims that Allaah assigned Ali as the successor of the
Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). If
we check this
claim against the historical facts which confirms that Ali did
not sacrifice himself, as it was expected of a person of his quality to carry
out the commandment of
Allaah, the result will definitely be one of these
three possibilities:
Ali, the pious companion, willingly disobeyed Allaah and betrayed the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) by claiming that his judgment and wisdom were better than Allaah?S, (may Allaah forbid).
Ali, the great warrior of Islaam,
unwillingly disobeyed the commandment of Allaah, because he was a coward and
his fear of people was greater than his fear of
Allaah, the All-Mighty (may
Allaah forbid).
The cornerstone of the Shee?ah faith
is false and baseless as well as its dimensions and their
evidences.
Our dear brothers,
sisters and friends, we have just presented to you the facts to prove that
the Shee?ah are different from
Muslims.