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اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَّ مْ
Slander against Shiites has been going on for centuries since the death of the Prophet Muhammad until today. Shiites are accused of being infidels, heretics and not part of Islam.
Shiites are accused of justifying adultery with mut’ah marriage. The pillars of faith and the pillars of Islam are different. The Koran is different. The creed is different. Shiites are also considered to have disbelieved in the Prophet’s wife and companions. And many other slanders.
As a result, many people misunderstand Shia, then hate Shia and make their blood halal. The end of all this slander was civil war, between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
This is precisely what America and Israel want… The losers… are the Muslims themselves.
So what exactly?
Here’s the short answer. Shia is part of Islam.
This is the decision of the international conference of Islamic scholars throughout the world which was held in Amman, Jordan, on 4 – 6 July 2005 AD.
In the resolution it is said that the Shiite School of thought is recognized as one of the 8 schools of thought in Islam, so it cannot be disbelieved.
This resolution was issued in Jordan at the initiative of King Abdullah II, signed by approximately 500 leading clerics from 50 countries including Indonesia, and adopted by 6 international Islamic ulama councils at the Organization of the Islamic Conference session in Mecca in July 2006.
Furthermore… Shia people also adhere to the shahada, believing that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, just like the Sunnis. Isn’t the SYAHADAT the minimum threshold for someone to be considered Islamic (Muslim)?
Apart from that, Shia Muslims also pray 5 times a day (dawn, noon, asr, maghrib and Isha), fast during the month of Ramadan, pay zakat and carry out the Hajj… exactly the same as other Muslims.
The Koran is also exactly the same as the Koran used by Sunni Muslims (not like the slander that is being advertised). In fact, Iran often holds International MTQ which is attended by the entire Islamic world. Obviously the Koran is the same.
Just as an additional fact, around 15 percent of Saudi Arabian citizens are adherents of the Shia sect. And Shia Muslims from Saudi are also allowed to perform the Hajj. So, the Saudi government also recognizes that they are Muslims. Likewise, Shia Muslims from Iran also carry out the Hajj every year.
So what is the reason why Shiites are not part of Islam? Is not it?
This brief article was written with the aim of facilitating the wider public’s understanding of the Shiite School of thought which is often slandered as a religion outside of Islam. This perception arises from ignorance of things that are considered controversial and different from the beliefs of the majority of Muslims.
What is Shiism and Why Do People Choose Shiism
In prayer, we always pray: Ihdinaa Siraatal Mustaqiim , which means Show us the Straight Path. That is a path that cannot be wrong, cannot lead astray, and is not also a path that Allah SWT will be angry with.
This means that the straight path is a truly holy path, free from mistakes, no matter how small. So that the straight path is always protected from blemishes and mistakes, there must be someone to guard it, who of course must also be pure from mistakes and sins (makshum). After Rasulullah SAW died, there still had to be people… and they were not appointed by humans (through any means), but through the command of Allah SWT. These are, according to Shia belief, the Imams of Ahlul Bait (a.s.) with a total of 12 imams, starting from the first Imam, namely Imam Ali bin Abi Talib and finally Imam Mahdi (a.s.).
Therefore, for Shia Muslims, they believe that Allah SWT and Rasulullah SAW have appointed Imam Ali bin Abi Talib AS as Imam, as the leader of the believers.
Maybe there are some people who regret why they are still making a fuss about old events that cannot be changed, namely the dispute over who is the legitimate caliph, between Abu Bakr or Ali bin Abi Talib. Isn’t that a long time ago? Why do we have to fight over things that can no longer be changed?
Yes, that’s true… but what they don’t realize or don’t understand is, because what they see is the position of caliph, which outwardly concerns world affairs, political, military and social affairs. In fact, the appointment of Imam Ali (a.s.) as IMAM had much greater duties, namely spiritual and religious matters, as well as socio-political affairs.
So even though in fact, Abu Bakr held the position of caliph, it does not mean that Imam Ali’s priesthood was invalidated. Imam Ali (AS) remains the Imam, who keeps the Islamic religion and Muslims on the right track. Yes indeed, this task becomes much more difficult, because Imam Ali (as) does not simultaneously serve as caliph.
So in simple terms, people who are called Shiite followers are those who “are affiliated with Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) and 11 other Imams (a.s.)”; namely what makes them (the aimmah as they are) as Guardians/Leaders/Maula for both worldly and hereafter affairs.
For Shiites, this is a matter of religion (ushuluddin). It’s not about the position of world caliphate. Because the consequences will be related to whether you are still following/following Islamic teachings correctly. Shia followers will take reference in various issues of aqidah, religious fiqh, muamalah, politics and social issues only to the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet (AS). Because according to his belief, they (the priests) were officially appointed by Allah and His Messenger as washi and successors of Rasulullah saww.
So it is not a matter of who is the caliph, in the style of leader of the state or society, but the imamate here is related to whether we follow the teachings of the Qur’an with interpretations that are maintained by “saints” (imam Makshum AS) or whether we follow the teachings of the Qur’an through interpretations from other people. whose purity and truth are not guaranteed.
What is the evidence from Him that the Imams (a.s.) were appointed by Allah SWT
In the Qur’an, there are many verses that explain and determine the imamate of Imam Ali (a.s.) and other imams. Of course, don’t outwardly expect to find the names of the imams in the qur’an…. because the Koran speaks globally.
As with other topical verses, these instructions must be linked to the mutawatir hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad, especially regarding the reasons for the revelation and revelation of these verses. Like the verse about prayer, for example, we will not find the details in the Qur’an, but in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad.
1. Wilâyah Verse:
نَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱ لَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمْ رَٰ كِعُونَ
“Indeed, your guardian/leader is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe, who perform prayers and pay zakat, while they are in a state of bowing.” (Qs. Al-Maidah [5]:55)
For those who understand Arabic, it may be easier to understand this verse. In that verse, pay attention to the word ٱلَّذِينَ (which refers to someone/something) and the word وَ (which means AND or something that is inseparable)
So, a simplified understanding of this verse is more or less:
Indeed, your Guardian/Leader is only Allah + the Messenger of Allah + a believer WHO performs prayer AND pays zakat when he is bowing down.
Most mufassirin (interpreters) and muhaddits (hadith experts) say that this verse was revealed to Imam Ali bin Abi Talib As.
Suyuti, one of the leading scholars of Ahlusunnah in his tafsir book “al-Durr al-Mantsur” related to this verse quoted from Ibn Abbas that “When Ali bin Abi Talib was in a state of bowing, a beggar came and Ali bin Abi Talib handed him his ring. the person as alms. Rasulullah SAW asked the beggar, “Who is it that has given his ring to you? The beggar pointed at Majesty Ali As and said: That person was the one who gave me alms when he was in a state of bowing.” Then at that time this verse came down.
Allamah Amini ra in his book al-Ghadir, states that the narrations regarding the revelation of this verse regarding the incident of Imam Ali (a.s.) above are in approximately 20 standard books of the Ahlusunnah, stating the evidence and sources.
In this verse it is very clear that the territory of Amirul Mukminin Ali bin Abi Talib is in line and parallel to the territory of Allah SWT and Rasulullah SAW. Therefore, obedience to the leadership/territory of Imam Ali (a.s.) becomes mandatory.
2. Ulul Amri’s verse:
“O you who believe, obey Allah and obey Rasul-(His) and Ulul amri (the washi Rasulullah) among you.” (Qs. Al-Nisa [4]:59)
Just by thinking briefly, we can understand that the meaning of ulul amri in that verse is not that whoever is our leader, because the word وَ (which means AND) in that verse has the same degree. It is impossible for our obedience to Allah and the Messenger of Allah, which is absolute… to also be applied to someone who happens to be our leader.
The command of MANDATORY ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE which is on the same level as obedience to Allah and the Messenger cannot be given to any Ulul Amri, surely only Ulul Amri is Makshum. As Allah SWT and Rasulullah Saw are makshum/holy. And according to what is conveyed in various verses and narrations, the only people who reached the makshum level were Imam Ali (a.s.) and the other Imams of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).
3. Tathir Verse:
According to the Qur’an, the only person capable of understanding and interpreting the Qur’an 100% correctly without the slightest error is a holy man (makhsum). Meanwhile, the interpretation/understanding of other humans (of any caliber of scholar), the truth is relative (still potentially wrong).
This is in accordance with the text of the Koran, namely in Surah Al-Waqi’ah verse 79:
لَا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ
“Do not touch it (the Koran) except those who are purified.”
The meaning of the word “touch” here is a symbolic meaning. Not touching/holding the holy book Al-Quran, but it must be interpreted contextually, namely one that is able to understand and touch the essence of the Al-Quran. You can read a detailed explanation in this article.
It is said in this verse that those who can reach the true meaning of the Koran are “purified people” (makshum). Who does Allah SWT mean to be the purified people?
Those who are purified are explained again by Allah SWT in Surah Al-Ahzab 33:
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
“…Indeed, Allah only wants to remove the stains from you, O Ahlul Bayt and purify you as pure as possible.”
In the Sahih Muslim book, chapter on the Virtues of the Ahlul Bait, the hadith of Asbabun Nuzul verse is narrated from Aisyah who said,
“The Messenger of Allah went out of the house early in the morning wearing clothes (not sewn) with pictures on them. Then Hasan bin Ali came, and the Messenger of Allah put him in his clothes; then Husayn came, and Rasulullah saw put him in his clothes; then came Fatimah, and the Messenger of Allah put her in his clothes; next Ali also came, and the Messenger of Allah put him in his clothes; Then the Messenger of Allah said, “Indeed, Allah intends to remove sin from you, O Ahlul Bait, and purify you as pure as possible.” (QS. Al-Ahzab: 33)
From the hadith of Rasulullah, the people who were purified (who lived at that time) included Rasulullah saw, Imam Ali as, Sayyidah Fatima sa, Imam Hasan as and Imam Husain as.
4. Inauguration of Imam Ali AS
One of the very well-known arguments regarding the appointment of Imam Ali (a.s.) as Wali/Imam/Leader is the event of the inauguration of Imam Ali (a.s.) as Imam by Rasulullah SAW during the hajj wada (the last pilgrimage of the prophet) at Ghadir Khum in the presence of 120 thousand companions of the Prophet from various regions.
The incident occurred when all the people who had made the pilgrimage had gone home, then suddenly the Angel Gabriel sent down Allah’s command:
“ O Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord. And if you don’t do (what you were ordered to do, that means) you are not conveying His message. Allah protects you from human (harm). Indeed, Allah does not guide those who disbelieve .” (QS. Al-Maidah: 67: 4)
After receiving this order, the Prophet saww stopped and ordered the entire group to stop and set up camp. He saww also ordered all the people who were already far ahead to return immediately, and also to wait until the other Hajj pilgrims who were still behind arrived and finally everyone gathered. At that time the number reached around 120 thousand people.
Rasulullah saww told Salman ra to make a high pulpit out of stones and a camel saddle so that he could deliver the sermon. Rasulullah SAW then went up to the pulpit and delivered his speech, the summary of which was as follows:
“Know – O people – that Allah SWT has appointed Ali as your guardian and imam, and has obliged every one of you to obey him. The legal decisions he takes are valid, and his words are valid. He who opposes him is cursed, and he who believes in him is blessed.”
“Listen and obey, indeed Allah is your Lord and Ali is your leader. Then the priesthood and (next) leadership will be in the descendants who come from their corollas, until the day of judgment arrives.”
“Indeed, nothing is halal except what has been made lawful by Allah, His Messenger and them, and nothing is haram except what has been forbidden by Allah, His Messenger and them.”
After delivering his speech, the Prophet asked Imam Ali to come up to the pulpit and raise the Imam’s hand and introduce the Muslims that Ali bin Abi Talib was his successor. The Prophet said that obedience to Ali bin Abi Talib was the same as obedience to him.
“Those who are present should convey this to those who are not present, and parents should convey it to their children!”
This hadith is known as Hadith Al-Ghadir. The degree of this hadith is the most mutawatir hadith and there is no single hadith of the Prophet that exceeds the mutawatir of this hadith.
Muhammad ibn Jariir al-Thabari (died 310 H), wrote a book called al-Wilaayatu which wrote the thuruq or way of reciting this hadith as many as 75 ways/thuruq/shahabat (even though mutawatir is just 9 thuruq).
5. Tsaqalain hadith
Rasulullah SAW promised all his people to adhere to two things, namely the Koran and his Holy Family (Ahlul Bait as):
“I left you something that if you stick to it, you will never go astray after my death, namely the Book of Allah and the ‘ltrah of my Ahlul Bait.”
Complete details of this hadith can be seen in the Sahih Muslim Book, juz 4, page 123, published by Dar al-Ma’arif Beirut – Lebanon.
Who is the Itrah Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet who causes anyone who sticks to him to be sure that he will never be lost forever? Obviously not all descendants of the Apostle. But only holy/makshum humans. Because if it is interpreted that itrah ahlul bayt applies to anyone who is a descendant of the Prophet, of course it doesn’t make sense, they will be guaranteed to be in the truth, while he himself is very likely to be in error and sin.
The most sensible thing is only to hold fast to holy/sanctified humans by Allah SWT as indicated by Allah SWT in the verse:
” Indeed, Allah intends to remove the stains from you, O Ahlul Bait, and purify you as pure as possible .” (QS. Al-Ahzab: 33).
6. Hadith of the 12 Caliphs
There is one hadith that is very famous among the people, namely the hadith of the 12 caliphs. One of the hadiths is as follows:
“This religion will always stand until there are 12 caliphs for you. They were all agreed upon by the people” (HR. Abu Dawud: 4279).
In Sahih Muslim, hadith number 3393, and Sunan Abi Daud, hadith numbers 4279, and 4280, the term caliph is used for these twelve leaders. Meanwhile, in Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith number 7222 uses the term Amir.
In Sahih Bukhari, the hadith comes from Jabir: “The Messenger of Allah said, ‘After my death 12 emirs/imams will appear’, then the Messenger of Allah said something that I did not hear. Then I asked my father, ‘What did he say?’ My father answered, ‘All of them are from the Qureisy nation.’” (Sahih Bukhari, volume 9, chapter Istikhlaf, page 81)
There are many hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad which state the existence of 12 imams/leaders who must be obeyed by Muslims. Some of them are contained in authentic hadith books referenced by Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah. One of them: Jabir bin Abdillah said: “When verse 59 of Surah Nisa came down which emphasized “obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and your leaders” I asked the Messenger of Allah:
“We already know God and His Messenger, but we don’t know the Ulil Amr that we must obey, who are they?
He said: “They are my successors, the Imams and leaders after my death. The first is Ali, then in sequence Hasan, son of Ali, Husain, son of Ali, Ali, son of Al Husain, Muhammad, son of Ali, who in the Torah is known as Baqirul Ulum, and you will one day meet him, and whenever you meet him, convey my greetings to him.
Then after that, in order, Ja’far, son of Muhammad, Musa, son of Ja’far, Ali, son of Musa, Muhammad, son of Ali, Ali, son of Muhammad, Hasan, son of Ali, and then his son, whose name and chew (call) were the same as mine. God will make him ruler over the world, and he will be hidden from sight and sight, and he will be invisible for a long time. Until a time when there were only people who had strong faith, tested and had deep confidence in their leadership. (Muntakhabul Atsar, page 101)
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That is a brief summary of what Shia is and some of the propositions believed by Shia Muslims. For the Shiites themselves, whatever accusations are made against them, is actually not a problem, because whatever they are accused of generally comes from those who do not have proper knowledge about Shiites.
However, Shiites still have an obligation to convey true information, regardless of whether readers can understand and/or accept it as a true explanation of Shiites, just like Rasulullah saww who also carried out his da’wah to convey the truth.
Of course, it is everyone’s right to accept it or not, with all the consequences, for which he will of course be responsible for himself before Allah SWT later.
CONTROVERSIALS FITNA ABOUT SHIA
There are 13 issues that are often questioned about Shia which will be explained in this summary, including: about Imamah, Ghadir Kum, Abdullah Bin Saba’, Pillars of Faith, Pillars of Islam, Shahadat, Al Qur’an, Hadith, Friends, Taqiyyah, Nikah Mut’ah, Ashura, and about self-harm.
These 13 questions will be explained briefly to facilitate general understanding. Readers who intend to find out more details can search in more depth from various sources in Shia books that are widely circulated, both in book and video form, in bookstores and online.
1. About Shiites Who Insulted the Prophet’s Wives and Companions
Indeed, there are a handful of takfiri Shiites who like to insult the Prophet’s friends and wives. One of them which is very famous and is spread in various videos is from the London Takfiri Shia, led by Yasir Al Habib , whose activities are maintained and financed by the enemies of Islam.
This takfiri Shia activity is often used to slander Shia people, as if all Shia people were like that.
Even though all Shiite clerics forbid such insulting acts. Sayyid Ali Khamenei, a major Shia leader and marja in Iran, in his fatwa stated, “It is forbidden to insult or insult the symbols (which are glorified) of Sunni brothers, including the Prophet’s wife. The prohibition applies to all the wives of the Prophets, especially the wives of the Prophet Muhammad saww.”
Then there is also a fatwa from the major Shia marja in Iraq, Sayyid Ali Sistani: “The act of insulting the companions of the Prophet Muhammad is contrary to the teachings of the ahlul bait.”
So what is the actual Shia view of the Prophet’s wife and companions? Indeed, there are slight differences in views between Sunnis and Shiites regarding the companions of the Prophet, namely as follows:
Beliefs of some Sunni Muslims regarding companions:
All friends are good and fair people. Whatever they do is right, because Allah has blessed them for what they have done to uphold Islam.
Whatever has happened between friends (enmity, quarrels, murder) then we, the people of the next generation, must remain silent, there is no need to criticize it.
While Shia Beliefs About Friends: Being a good person is a lifelong struggle. Meeting Rasulullah saww, even fighting with him is not a guarantee that someone will remain good until the end of life.
During the time of Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib (as), there were several wars in which the Prophet’s friends faced each other. They fought and thousands of the Prophet’s friends were killed in that war. So based on that fact, can it be said that all the friends were definitely fair and all were definitely right? Even though they are fighting each other? That is why Shia Muslims are critical of their friends. Because not all friends are always right and fair.
Regarding various disputes and mutual killings, Shia believes that a critical attitude must be maintained. It must be determined and explained, who is right and who is wrong between them.
This is not a matter of holding a grudge, but rather a matter of who can be a role model for the people and verifying hadith.
When there are two hadiths that contradict each other; one was narrated by Muawiyah and the other was narrated by Ali, Shiites will only accept the hadith narrated by Ali.
When there are two contradictory points of view regarding one issue, one is Friend X’s view, the other is Ali’s view, the Shiites choose to take Ali’s view.
So, can the Shia’s attitude of remaining critical of past historical events be used as a reason to call them a heretical group?
Is the attitude of the Shiites who prefer the history of Ali over Muawiyah considered heresy? Isn’t it true that in Sunni doctrine, silence regarding what happens between friends is not part of the creed?
So this is what the wider community needs to understand, that being critical (like the Shia attitude) is different from digesting/insulting.
Shia Muslims do not insult or insult the companions of the Prophet Saww. Because in the Shia view, insulting ordinary people is already a sin, let alone insulting the friends of the Prophet Muhammad.
2. Regarding Defamation, the Shia Qur’an is different from the Sunni Qur’an
Shiites are also often accused of having a different Koran. This accusation is actually contrary to the belief of Muslims that in the Koran, Allah SWT has promised to maintain the purity of the Koran.
Thus, if Muslims really believe in the truth of the Qur’an, then these accusations should not be appropriate.
There are several facts that need to be explained regarding these accusations so that it should be clear that these accusations are actually groundless and are just bad prejudices that the enemies of Islam continue to spread.
All Al Qur’ans that are printed, circulated and used in any Shiite region, are exactly the same as Al Qur’ans that are printed and circulated in Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and anywhere else in the world.
No one and in any country can show where there are publishers and sellers of the Shia Koran which are said to be different.
There are more than 120 Shiite scholars who wrote commentaries on the Koran. All verses that are interpreted are the same as the verses that are interpreted in the books of Sunni scholars.
There are also many Shia Muslims who memorize all 30 Juz in the Qur’an and the memorized verses are exactly the same as the verses of the Qur’an anywhere.
Many of these memorizers are still very young and were even declared winners in the International MTQ. For example, Mahmoud Nouruzi from Iran, was the first winner in the Hifzhul Quran category in the III International MTQ Indonesia , which was held on 30 August – 3 September 2015.
Or another, Muhammad Husein Tabataba’i (born in Qom, Iran), who at the age of 7 received a Doctorate degree (in 1998) from Hijaz Collage Islamic University, England.
He was not only able to memorize the entire contents of the Koran, but was also able to translate the meaning of each verse into his mother tongue, namely Persian, understand the meaning of the verses, and could use the verses in everyday conversation, so that He was famous as a child prodigy , a little doctor who memorized and understood the Koran.
The Muslim Unity Conference which was held in Tehran in 1998 also presented a girl who very eloquently recited verses from the Koran which were exactly the same as the verses from the Koran that were memorized by anyone throughout the world.
3. Regarding the Shiite View of the Hadith Books
There is not a single book of hadith or any book that Shiites believe to be a book that is definitely true apart from the Koran.
So, Shiites do not have a hadith book with “saheeh” status, like Sunnis who believe the books Saheeh Bukhari and Sahih Muslim to be 100% authentic.
In the Shia view, all Shia hadith books are only believed to be a COLLECTION of HADITH, all of which must be examined for authenticity and all of which are worthy of criticism.
So there is no such thing as an authentic hadith book in Shia. All hadiths contained in hadith books must always be tested for their validity first.
For example, research results from Sayyid Ali Al Milani state that more than half of the hadiths in the book Al Kulaini are dho’if (weak) hadiths.
Thus, the various vile slanders that anti-Shia people often level as Shia teachings with the argument that they originate from authentic Shia hadiths… are completely unacceptable.
4. About the Pillars of the Shia Faith
One of the serious accusations leveled at the Shiites is the heresy of their creed. It is said that Shiites only have five Pillars of Faith, namely:
1. Tauhid,
2. ‘Is (God’s justice),
3. Prophethood,
4. Imamah,
5. Ma’ad (doomsday).
On the other hand, Sunnis believe in six pillars of faith: faith in Allah, in His angels, in His books, in His prophets, in qadha and qadar, and faith in the last day.
Then, from this difference, it was said that Shia people were seen as “not Muslim”.
It should be noted that the Pillars of Faith and Pillars of Islam which are widely known by people in the Islamic world today are a formula compiled by Ash’ariyah theological scholars.
However, it cannot be denied that Asy’ariyah theology is only one of the many schools of thought that exist within the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah school of thought.
For example, there is the Maturidiyah school of theology. There is also the Mu’tazilah sect. Each of these schools also has its own formula regarding the Pillars of Faith and the Pillars of Islam, which are also different from the formulation of Asya’riyah theology.
Ahlul Hadith and Salafi theology who adhere to Ahmad bin Hanbal’s theology also provide detailed formulations of creeds which are also different from Ash’ariyah.
So the most important thing to underline is: if there is a part of the faith that is not included in the formula or formulation of an article of faith, it does not mean that that part is not believed by the followers of that sect. However, the formula is different.
For example …
In the Sunni pillars of faith, faith in the holy books is included, whereas in the Shia pillars it is not included. Do Shiites not believe in the holy book?
Of course not. Shia people clearly believe in the existence of holy books and that these holy books were revealed by Allah to his Prophets and Messengers.
It’s just that the Shiites do not include it separately, but include it in a sub-section of nubuwwah (prophecy), namely the nubuwah of the previous Prophets, and the last Prophet Muhammad SAW.
The same thing also applies to belief in angels and qadha/qadar. Shiites believe that angels do exist and that they each have a number of duties.
Shiites also believe that Allah has decrees that no one can possibly resist. However, Shia included discussion about this in a sub-section of the chapter discussing other pillars.
It’s like, there are two authors who both wrote books about ‘natural resources’. Author A is very likely to divide the discussion into 15 chapters, while other authors write 10 chapters. By author A, the topic of ‘petroleum’ is used as a separate discussion in chapter 5, while author B only includes ‘petroleum’ in one of the sub-chapters in chapter 4.
Sunnis limit the pillars of faith to only six things. Of course, this does not mean that Sunnis do not believe in other things.
When Sunnis only include the existence of Allah’s decrees as a pillar of faith, this does not mean they reject Allah’s other attributes such as omniscience, omniscience. and Mahaeternal.
Sunnis also do not include belief in the grave and the transience of the world in their articles of faith, even though it is clear that they believe in it.
So… once again… just not including a belief in the articles of faith, doesn’t mean you don’t believe in it. That’s the main point we need to realize.
5. About the Pillars of Shia Islam
The same case also applies to the pillars of Islam of Shiites. The issue being raised is that Shia people have different pillars of Islam, namely:
1. Prayer,
2. Fasting,
3. Zakat.
4. Hajj,
5. Region.
The question is, do Shiites not practice the shahada? Of course they prayed.
Please study the books that guide Shiite worship. You will definitely find that reciting the Syahadatain (two sentences of the creed) is one of the obligations in prayer. The Syahadatain is also required to be read by the Friday prayer preacher.
A careful study of the chapters of Shi’ite jurisprudence (not just relying on ‘what they say’) will lead us to the understanding that what Sunnis believe to be the pillars of Islam are also believed by Shi’ites.
Shia people also believe in the teachings of amar makruf nahi munkar, munakahat (marriage), waqaf, jihad, mu’amalah. inheritance law, thaharah, caring for corpses, and so on. All the same.
Even if there are differences in procedures, these differences are very, very slight. But, aren’t there many differences between the Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Syafi’i, Maliki, Hanbali and Hanafi) in terms of worship procedures?
6. About Mut’ah Marriage
One of the biggest slanders about Shia is related to the issue of mut’ah marriage. In a slander that is often spread, it is said that the Shiites have justified adultery, because they consider mut’ah marriage to be the same as adultery.
In fact, those who slander also know that according to the beliefs of all schools of thought, the Messenger of Allah SAW once permitted mut’ah marriage. So, the simple logic is, if in the past mut’ah marriage was once permitted, is it possible that mut’ah marriage is the same as adultery, let alone even adultery with someone else’s wife?
Without realizing it, this accusation was the same as accusing the Messenger of Allah of having permitted adultery. Nauzbillah! That is really the same as committing a very big slander on the Messenger of Allah.
Imam Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Hasan bin Muhammad from Jabir bin Abdillah and Salamah bin Al-Akwa’ both said, “We joined an army, then the Messenger of Allah (saw) came, he said, ‘Indeed, the Messenger of Allah has permitted you to marry mut’ah, then you must mut’ah.’ (can be read in Imam Al-Bukhari, hadith 5115-7, book Al-Nikah, chapter Nahy Rasulillah saw ‘an Nikah Al-Mut’ah End; and Al-Imam Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj, hadith 3302-5, book Al -Marriage, chapter Nikah Al-Mut’ah)
That is a historical fact revealed in Sunni books, that during the time of the Prophet saww (until the time of Abu Bakr’s caliphate), mut’ah marriages were performed by the companions of the prophet.
This mut’ah marriage began to be prohibited during the caliphate of Umar bin Khattab, where he made a speech to the public:
“O people, indeed the Messenger of Allah is the messenger of Allah, and the Koran is this Koran. And in fact there were two types of mut’ah that were in effect during the time of the Prophet, but I forbade both and imposed sanctions on both.
One of them is mut’ah marriage, and I don’t find anyone who marries a woman for a certain period of time unless I destroy it with stones. And the second is the Tamattu Hajj, so separate the Hajj from your Umrah because actually that is more perfect for your Hajj and Umrah.” (read in Muhammad Fakhr Al-Din Al-Razi, Tafsir Al-Fakhr Al-Razi, juz 10, p. 51, QS. Al-Nisa’ [4]:24, cet. 1, Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, 1981 AD, 1401 AH)
Why do Shiites allow mut’ah marriage? The reason is because Shia believe that what has been established by the Koran, the law cannot be changed by anyone, until the Day of Judgment.
The Al-Quran stipulates in Surah An-Nisa verse 24:
And those who seek pleasure (istamta’tum, from the same root word as mut’ah) by marrying them (women), then give their dowry as an obligation… (QS. Al-Nisâ’ [4]: 24)
The Koran is the highest source of law and therefore cannot be abolished by lower laws (for example by the ijtihad of friends or the caliph’s fatwa).
That is the Shia attitude towards mut’ah marriage. The argument is that the laws established by Allah SWT and Rasulullah Saww cannot be changed by humans (even by the caliph’s fatwa).
Then, we also need to realize that the law on mut’ah marriage is only “permissible”. It is not “mustahab (sunnah)” let alone “obligatory”, as is often accused of Shia.
Therefore, even though the Shia legalize mut’ah marriage, this does not mean that all Shia people automatically practice it. This is more a matter of upholding the legal position in Islam, because the law must be able to answer various problems faced by humans.
And besides, mut’ah marriage cannot be done haphazardly. There are terms and conditions, just like in a daim (permanent) marriage, such as there must be permission from the guardian (father), there must be a contract and a dowry, when a divorce occurs or the time limit for the marriage has ended, the iddah period is for 2 menstrual cycles , etc.
7. About Abdullah bin Saba who is called the founder of the Shiites
This figure is widely believed by some ordinary Muslims to be the founder of the Shiites, namely a Jew who aimed to divide Muslims.
In fact, in Shia itself, this figure is never mentioned or referred to or remembered, either in all Shia books or in the discussions of Shia ulama.
If this person really exists and is the founder, of course his words will always be referred to and used as guidance by the Shiites.
His name must also be included in various histories as befits a founder in various sects or schools of thought such as the Hanafiah, or Maliki or Syafi’i or Hambali schools.
Shiites are known to have great respect for their Guardians and Imams; and make it happen in the form of pilgrimages.
Of course, if this figure really exists, especially as a founder, it must be clear where his grave is and what his history is so that it is worthy of being visited and remembered, both when he was born and when he died.
In fact, this figure is very unclear.
Apart from the existing facts, it is necessary to convey 3 main things regarding Abdullah bin Saba as a figure whose existence should be doubted:
There is confusion in the information, so it is not clear who this figure really is. According to Ibn Hazm and Syahrastani, this figure was actually named Ibn Sauda. But Ibn Thahir Al Bagdadi in his book ‘Al-Farqu Bainal Firaq’, and Al Asfaraini in his book ‘At-Tabsyirah fid-Diin’ stated that Ibn Sauda was not Abdullah bin Saba.
Likewise with its origins. In other books it is said to come from San’a Yemen, while in other books, it is said to come from Hira. Its appearance in one book is said to be during the time of Ustman bin Affan, in another book it is said to be during Ali’s reign.
The teachings contained in various books are also different. In one book it is said that he taught that Muhammad would live again. In another book, Ali is the one who will come back to life. In another book, he teaches that Ali is a complete God, but in another book it is stated that he said that there were some attributes of God in Ali.
From these unclear teachings, especially regarding faith, it clearly shows that this figure, even if he really exists, is not someone worthy of being followed by Shiites.
So, where did Abdullah bin Saba’s story come from? The history of this figure comes from the book Tarikh Thabari through 2 people as sources, namely Saif bin Umar Attamimi and As-Surri bin Yahya.
But it turns out that from various books about the biographies of narrators it has been stated that Saif bin Umar was a fake, unreliable, zindiq, evil and weak narrator (Ibnu Hayyan, Al-Hakim An-Naisaburi, Ibnu Addiy, Ibnu Mu’in, Abu Dawud , An-Nasa’I and As-Suyuthi).
This assessment also applies to As-Surri bin Yahya, who was even called Al-Kadzdzab (a liar) by famous hadith scholars.
From these various facts, it is clear that the accusations/slanders of the Shia founded by Abdullah bin Saba are completely unreasonable and can be refuted very easily.
8. Regarding the attitude of Taqiyyah carried out by the Shiites
Taqiyyah is hiding the beliefs one adheres to by displaying a different outward attitude, due to reasons that endanger one’s life or property, either oneself or others.
This is generally what Shia people who are in “unsafe” areas have to do to show their Shia beliefs (threatened to be killed, threatened with their wealth and sustenance, etc.).
Several arguments for the permissibility of performing taqiyyah are written in the Koran, for example:
“Do not let the believers take unbelievers as guardians and leave the believers behind. Whoever does this, he will certainly escape from Allah’s help, except because of (a strategy) to protect himself from something that is feared by them …” (Qs Ali Imran [3]: 28)
and verse
“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after he has believed, (he incurs Allah’s wrath), except the person who is forced to disbelieve even though his heart remains calm in believing (he does not sin). But whoever opens his heart to disbelief, Allah’s wrath will fall on him and he will have a great punishment.” (Qs Al-Nahl [16]: 106)
There are several examples in history that prove that performing taqiyyah is part of Islamic teachings. Among the famous ones is the taqiyyah carried out by Asiyah (Pharaoh’s wife) who hid her beliefs in front of Pharaoh.
Apart from that, there is also a very famous story about how one of the Prophet’s companions, Ammar bin Yasir, was forced to practice taqiyyah because he was threatened with death even though his heart was full of faith.
9. Concerning the Shia Creed
Shiites believe that the shahada is the most important vow in Islam. Saying the two sentences of the shahada is proof that someone has made a great vow and is a sign of changing their faith to become a Muslim.
Shiites do not recognize any other additions to the text of the shahada as per the ijmak of the Muslims. The additional text “wa ‘Aliyyan waliyyullâh ” is not found in Shiite reference books at all.
In fact, the addition of this text, as accused by the Shiites in the call to prayer, is heresy according to most Shiite scholars.
Some lay behavior that adds sentences as alleged to be the Shia creed which is different from the Sunni creed… cannot be used as a basis, because lay behavior is not a source of law or authority that can be held in judging any school of thought.
In fact, in the Wasâil Al-Syi’ah Book chapter 19 concerning the call to prayer and ikamah it is stated that it is prohibited to add the text “wa ‘Aliyyan waliyullâh” to the call to prayer.
In fact, this is considered something that is invalidly included in Shia books. The same thing is mentioned in all other Shia references.
In the Shia view too, any Muslim ahlus sunnah wal jamaah (Sunni) who chooses the Shia school of thought, then he does not need to do the shahada anymore. Because in Shia, all Sunni Muslims are already Muslims. That’s why he doesn’t need to say shahada anymore.
10. About Ashura Commemoration 10 Muharram
Ashura is not a holiday, but rather a day of mourning.
Ashura was the massacre of the Prophet’s family in a place called Karbala, southern Iraq. This event took place on the 10th of Muharram in 61 Hijriah, about 50 years after the death of the Prophet.
The Ashura event is said to be very tragic because of the following things:
The war took place between the family caravan of the Prophet Muhammad SAWW and 30,000 troops, all of whom were Muslims. The troops themselves were led by Umar, son of Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqash, one of the Prophet’s great companions. This means that at that time the Muslims massacred the children and descendants of their own prophet.
The Prophet’s family entourage was tortured by thirst for three days before they were finally killed. Umar’s troops blockaded the Euphrates river so that the Prophet’s family could not get drinking water.
The bodies of Al Husayn and his entourage were mutilated. Their heads were cut off and stuck on spears. Then, the heads were paraded to Kufa and to Sham (Syria) to be presented to Yazid bin Muawiyah.
The remaining members of the Prophet’s family who were still alive, namely the women and 2 men who were helpless, were led away and chained. They were required to take part in a procession of heads mounted on spears, to be shown to Muslims in the cities they passed.
The things above are facts that are agreed upon as true by both Sunni and Shiite historians.
So, Shia Muslims commemorate the Ashuro event, especially commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.), just as some Muslims hold HAUL events for figures or scholars to commemorate the example of the figure they commemorate.
If Sunni Muslims often hold hauls every year for various religious figures, then why can’t Shiites hold hauls to commemorate the martyrdom of the leader of the martyrs, Imam Husain (a.s.)? That is what is meant by the Ashura warning.
11. On Self-Injury in Events of Grief
Hurt yourself? Is it true? How is it really?
The majority of Shia clerics have a fatwa that self-injury (qameh zani) during Ashuro events and days of mourning is haram and contrary to religion.
No less than Ayatullah Bagir Sadr, Imam Khomeini, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, Ayatullah Ali Sistani, Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli, Ayatullah Makarim Syirazi, Ayatullah Mazaheri Isfahani, Ayatullah Kazim Haeri etc… all gave fatwas regarding the prohibition of harming oneself.
Why should such a fatwa be issued? Because the fact is that there was once a small group of extreme Shiites who carried out this qameh zani, for example in Pakistan, whose photos are continuously distributed to this day.
For those who have lived in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, they can safely say that they have not encountered these Qameh Zani actions.
Also in many countries. In Ashuro mourning events, at best you just pat your chest as a symbol of condolence.
12. About Imamah (Leadership after the Prophet saww)
In Sunni Belief:
Rasulullah saww did not clearly appoint a successor. However, several events were interpreted as indications that his successor was Abu Bakr, namely:
– Inviting Abu Bakr to accompany him on the emigration from Mecca to Medina
– Marrying his child
– Asking him to lead the prayers when he was seriously ill
Meanwhile, in the Shia belief:
Rasulullah saww has clearly and emphatically appointed his successor.
As a good leader, especially for the importance of maintaining the purity of Islamic teachings, it was impossible for him to just abandon his people.
Various narrations which also exist in Sunni books have shown this clearly, that he had appointed Ali bin Abi Talib as his successor.
Facts regarding the suitability of Ali bin Abi Talib to be the successor of Rasulullah saww:
– The closest relatives of Rasulullah saww, both as cousins and in-laws.
– Previously converted to Islam (as Saabiquunal Awwalun).
– Islamic war hero, until there is an Arabic saying “There is no young man as strong as Ali, no sword as powerful as Dzulfiqar” (Dzulfiqar was Ali’s sword in every war).
– The most knowledgeable, so he got the nickname Babul ‘ilm or the Door of Knowledge according to his hadith SAWW, “I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is the gate. Whoever wants to enter a city, let him enter through its doors.”
– Imam of the Sufis, so he is known as Divine Wisdom (priest in the Science of Wisdom) and Spiritual Warriorship (Futuwwah).
Almost all orders are based on Ali’s teachings and their founders are his descendants, including Sheikh Abdu Qadir Jaelani, founder of the Qadiriah order. The Sufis’ respect for Ali was so high that he received the nickname Karamallahu Wajhahu (May Allah glorify his face).
– The most fluent Arabs after Rasulullah SAWW, so that Ibn Abil Hadid (the famous Mu’tazilah scholar and writer in the 7th century compiled a book entitled “Syarah Nahjul Balaghah” with the foreword: “By the Most True, the words of Ali are under the words of the Khaliq and above the words of creatures. People can learn the discipline of rhetoric and writing from Ali.”
This fascination with Ali’s eloquence was also expressed by Shaykh Muhammad Abduh in his Syarah book on Nahjul Balaghah: “There is no one from the Arab tribe who does not believe that after the Qur’an and the words of the Prophet SAW, Ali’s words are the noblest, most eloquent, most weighty, and also the most comprehensive”.
The 4th Caliph who was appointed by the people in large numbers to become Caliph after Uthman bin Affan. Ali’s firmness in leading the people gave rise to resistance which led to three wars, namely the Jamal war, the Shiffin war and the Nahrawan war.
The meaning of the word “Shia” itself actually means ‘follower’ in Arabic. However, over time, this word became a label for Muslims who believed that the successor of Rasulullah SAWW was Ali and decided to choose Ali as their leader.
The consequence of this choice is that the Shiites will clearly prioritize the opinions and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as conveyed by Imam Ali (a.s.) to be followed in carrying out the teachings of Islam.
13. About the Ghadir Kum Incident
This event occurred on the 18th of Dzulhijjah in 10H which is also narrated in various Sunni books as an event that actually occurred in Islamic history (Ath Thabari, Al Hamedani and Al Bahgdadi) and on the basis of mutawattir hadith (Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ibnu Hajar, Jazari Asy Syafi ‘i, As Sajestani and An Nasa’i), with narrators from various companions numbering up to 110 people (notes by Allamah Amini from various Sunni hadith books).
The difference that is believed to occur in this incident lies in the word “Maula” that Rasulullah SAWW uttered when he raised Ali’s hand in front of his people in the valley (Ghadir) called Rabigh or Khum, 3 miles from Juhfah, after first gathering his people after returning from the pilgrimage in Mecca to Medina. .
Previously, Allah SWT first revealed verse 67 of Surah Al Maidah: “O Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord. If you don’t do (what you were ordered to do, that means) you won’t convey His message. Allah protects you from human (interference). Indeed, Allah does not guide those who disbelieve.”
So at that time, in the hot afternoon heat of the Sahara desert, he SAWW called the Hajj pilgrims who were already at the front and those at the back to wait until everyone had gathered.
Then after the congregational prayer, he SAWW gave a speech about the creed, on a pulpit consisting of a pile of camel saddles. After giving his speech, he SAWW said: “I leave behind two valuable heirlooms, namely the Qur’an and the Ahlul Bait”.
Then called Ali and raised his hands high so that the white parts of his forearms were visible, and continued: “Allah is my Leader (Maula) and I am the leader (maula) of those who believe. I am more important to the believers than themselves. So, whoever makes me his leader (maula), then this is Ali as his leader too.”
After he dismissed his congregation, verse 3 of Surah Al-Maidah came down: “Today, I perfect your religion, I complete My blessings for you and I am willing to let Islam become your religion.”
Only a few Sunni clerics deny the occurrence of this incident. It’s just that the word Maula uttered by him SAWW was interpreted not as a leader, but only as a “loved person”.
The Shiites believe that the word Maula means leader. Because of this, the Ghadir Kum event is also celebrated every year by the Shia community as a holiday, apart from the Eid Fitri and Ied Adha holidays.
PRINCIPALS OF SHIAH TEACHINGS
Do you want to know in more detail what the main points of Shia teachings are, both about the aqidah and about Shia fiqh?
_________
(Abridged from the Shia book Between Slander and Fact, IKMAL Study Team, print I, Nov 2015 with several additions from various sources)
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وعَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُم
