The Term Shi’a in Qur’an and Hadiths Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. The word Shi’a”means followers; members of party. As such, the term Shi’a”alone has no negative or positive meaning unless we specify the leader of the party. If one is a Shi’a (follower) of the most righteous servants, then there is nothing wrong with being Shi’a, specially if the leader of such party has been assigned by Allah. On the other hand, if one becomes the Shi’a a tyrant or a wrong-doer, he shall meet with the fate of his leader. In fact, Qur’an indicates that on the day of Judgment people will come in groups, and each group has its leader in front of it. Allah, to whom belong Might and Majesty, said: One day We shall call every group of people by their respective Imams. (Qur’an 17:71) In the day of judgment, the destiny of the followers”of each group highly depends on the destiny of his Imam (provided that they really followed that Imam). Allah mentioned in Qur’an that there are two types of Imams. Some Imams are those who invite people to Hell fire. They are tyrannical leaders of each era (like Pharaoh, etc.): And We made them (but) Imams inviting to the Fire; and on the Day of Judgment no help shall they find. In this world We continued to curse them; and on the Day of Judgment they will be among the hateful. (Qur’an 28:41-42). Certainly, being the members of the parties of such Satanic Imams has been severely denounced in Qur’an, and the followers of such parties will meet the fate of their leaders. However, Qur’an also reminds that there are Imams who are appointed by Allah as Guides for the mankind: And We assigned from among them some Imams who GUIDE by Our authority since they were patient and believed firmly in Our Signs.”(Qur’an 32:24) Certainly, the true followers (Shi’a) of these Imams will be the real prosperous on the day of resurrection. Thus being a Shi’a does not mean anything, unless we know the Shi’a of whom. Allah mentioned in Qur’an that Some of His righteous servants were Shi’a of His other righteous servants. An example was Prophet Abraham who was mentioned in Qur’an specifically as the Shi’a of Noah: And most surely Abraham was among the Shi’a of him (i.e., Noah)”(Qur’an 37:83) وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ ﴿الصافات: ٨٣﴾ (Notice that the word Shi’a”is explicitly used, letter by letter, in the above verse as well as the following verse.) In another verse, Qur’an talks about the Shi’a of Moses versus the enemies of Moses: And he (Moses) went into the city at a time when people (of the city) were not watching, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his Shi’a and the other beinghis enemy, and the one who was of his Shi’a cried out to him for help against the one who was of his enemy”(Qur’an 28:15) فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ وَهَـٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ ۖفَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ... If somebody calls himself a Shi’a, it is not due to any sectarianism, nor any innovation. It is because Qur’an has used the phrase for some of His best servants. The above verses that I mentioned in support of Shi’a, has used this term singular form (i.e., one group of followers). This means that it has special meaning, such as: The Shi’a of Noah (as), The Shi’a of Moses (as). Also in the History of Islam, Shi’a has been specially used for the followers of ‘Ali. The first individual who used this term was the Messenger of Allah himself: The Messenger of Allah said to ‘Ali: Glad tiding O ‘Ali! Verily you and your companions and your Shi’a (followers) will be in Paradise. يا علي أبشر فإنك و أصحابك و شيعتك في الجنَّة Sunni references: 1. Fadha’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p655 2. Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu’aym, v4, p329 3. Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v12, p289 4. al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani 5. Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v10, pp 21-22 6. al-Darqunti, who said this tradition has been transmitted via numerous authorities. 7. al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p247 Thus the Messenger of Allah (S) used to say the phrase of Shi’a of ‘Ali. This phrase is not something invented later! Prophet Muhammad (S) said that the TRUE followers of imam ‘Ali will go to Paradise, and this is a great felicity. Also Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari narrated that: The Messenger of Allah (S) said: The Shi’a of ‘Ali are the real victorious in the day of resurrection/rising شيعة علي هم الفائزون يوم القيامة Sunni references: • al-Manaqib Ahmad, as mentioned in: • Yanabi al-Mawaddah, by al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, p62 • Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Hafidh Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, who quotes the tradition as follows: We were with the Holy Prophet when ‘Ali came towards us. The Holy Prophet said: He and his Shi’a will aquire salvation on the day of judgment. The day of rising”may also refer to the day of rising of al-Mahdi (as). But in more general term, it means the day of judgment. Also it is narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: O ‘Ali! On the Day of Judgment I shall resort to Allah and you will resort to me and your children will resort to you and the Shi’a will resort to them. Then you will see where they carry us. (i.e. to Paradise) Sunni reference: Rabi al-Abrar, by al-Zamakhshari Furthermore, it is narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: O ‘Ali! (On the day of Judgment) you and your Shi’a will come toward Allah well-pleased and well-pleasing, and there will come to Him your enemies angry and stiff-necked (i.e., their head forced up). Sunni references: • al-Tabarani, on the authority of Imam ‘Ali • al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p236 A more complete version of the tradition which has also been reported by the Sunnis, is as follows: Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated: When the verse Those who believe and do righteous deeds are the best of the creation (Qur’an 98:7)” was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (S) said to ‘Ali: They are you and your Shi’a.”He continued: O ‘Ali! (On the day of Judgment) you and your Shi’a will come toward Allah well-pleased and well-pleasing, and your enemies will come angry with their head forced up. ‘Ali said: Who are my enemies?”The Prophet (S) replied: He who disassociates himself from you and curses you. And glad tiding to those who reach first under the shadow of al-’Arsh on the day of resurrection.”‘Ali asked: Who are they, O the Messenger of Allah?”He replied: Your Shi’a, O ‘Ali, and those who love you. Sunni references: • al-Hafidh Jamaluddin al-Dharandi, on the authority of Ibn Abbas • al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, pp 246-247 Then Ibn Hajar provides a bizarre commentary for the first tradition, saying: The Shi’a of ‘Ali are the Ahlussunnah since they are those who love Ahlul-Bayt as Allah and His Prophet ordered. But others (i.e., other than Sunnis) are the enemies of Ahlul-Bayt in reality for the love outside the boundary of law is the great enmity, and that was the reason for their fate. Also, the enemies of Ahlul-Bayt were al-Khawarij and their alike from Syria, not Muawiyah and other companions because they were Muteawweloon, and for them is a good reward, and for ‘Ali and his Shi’a is a good reward! Sunni reference: • al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, p236 And this is how Sunni scholars cope with the prophetic traditions in favor of Shi’a of ‘Ali! They say that they are the real Shi’a! Let us look at one more tradition in this regard: The Messenger of Allah said to ‘Ali: The first four individuals who will enter the Paradise are me, you, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn, and our progeny will be behind us, and our wives will be behind our progeny, and our Shi’a will be on our right side and in our company. Sunni references: • al-Manaqib, by Ahmad • al-Tabarani, as quoted in: • al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p246 From the above pieces of evidence, the word Shi’a”is used by Allah in Qur’an for His prophets as well as their followers. Further, His blessed Prophet, Muhammad (S) has repeatedly used this word for the followers of Imam ‘Ali (as). The word Shi’a is used here in its special meaning, and moreover, it is not in plural form (Parties), rather the above verses and traditions are referring to a special party, i.e., one single party. If Shi’a meant sectarian, neither Allah would use it for His high rank prophets nor Prophet Muhammad (S) would have praised them.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 00:00:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015