Introduction to Shia Sect of Islam
The second-largest sect of Islam after ‘Sunni’ is the ‘Shia Sect’ of Islam’. The Shias constitute around 15-20% of the total Muslims. Also known by other names (e.g. Ahl e Tashayyo, Rafidhi e.t.c.), the Shia community lives in the majority in Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Bahrain, and Lebanon.
There are also various sub-sects inside Shia Islam including Twelvers, Ismaili (Seveners), Zaidi (Fivers) etc. Around 85% of the Shia community are Twelvers.
The History of the Shia sect of Islam is a little complicated. The origin of the Shia are debatable. The sources tell us that after Hazrat MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.) left this world, the Munafiqeens (Hypocrites of Islam) started to plant seeds of conflict and wars among the Muslims to break the Muslim community and completely vanish Islam. Few people at the time of the funeral of Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.) were of the view that the ‘Khilafat’ is the right of the member from the family of the Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.) and the main contender of the ‘Khilafat’ is Ali (A.S.). At ‘Ghadeer’, the Majlis (parliament) was set up and it was decided that the Khilafat must be given to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.). Very few Muslims opposed this decision and Munafiqeens took the advantage of the situation. The Munafiqeens sowed the seeds of Hatred and tried to divide the community into sects. (Aslan, 2005)
There was a Jew named “Abdullah Ibn Sabah” who tried his best to divide the Muslims. “Abdullah Ibn Sabah” was a Jew and for demolishing Islam, he became Muslim and started sowing the seeds of Hatred and Jealousy among the Muslims. The Khilafat was the main weapon he used to divide Muslims, and at last, was successful in creating the deviant sect known as Shia (Ahl e Tashayyo).
A close look at Islamic History tells us that the Munafiqeens involved in the Martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (R.A.) and Hazrat Uthman (R.A.) were Shia’s. The Shia’s have various deviant beliefs having no connection with the real Islam. The Shias mourn on the Day of Ashura (the day when Hazrat Hassan Ibn Ali) was martyred and consider the day to be the most important than other days.
Deviant Beliefs of Shia Sect
The Shia follow many deviant beliefs having no connection with the Qur’an and the real teachings of Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.). Some of the deviant beliefs enough to expose the deviant sect are as follows:
- Except few, all the companions including Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, and Hazrat Uthman were not on the right path (Naudhu Billah): ‘Ahl e Tashayyo’ is firm on the belief that after MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.) left this world, only minor companions (Sahaba) were on the path of Islam and the majority of the Sahabas became deviant (Naudhu Billah). The followers of Shi’ism hate the first three Khalifa’s of Islam and curse them in every Prayer and religious gathering.
- Mutah (Temporary Marriage) is still allowed in Shia Islam: The Shia still believes ‘Nikah Mutah’ as legal. Many followers of Shi’ism do ‘Nikah Mutah’. The Shias consider ‘Nikah Mutah’ as one of the rewarding acts by ALLAH (S.W.T.).
- Belief in Imam Zaman (the twelfth Imam): Imam Zaman according to the ‘Ahl e Tashayyo’ is “MUHAMMAD IBN AL HASAN AL MAHDI”, the son of Hazrat Hassan (A.S.). ‘Ahl e Tashayyo’ holds the false belief that Imam Zaman (the twelfth Imam according to the Shia sources) will be the Imam Mehdi who will emerge with Isa (A.S.). Shias believe that Imam Zaman is present in this world and reveals himself on a timely basis to the pious Muslims.
REPLY TO THE DEVIANT BELIEFS OF AHL E TASHAYYO (Ahl e Tashayyo)
According to the Shia sources, all the companions (including Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, and Hazrat Uthman) became deviant of the correct path of Islam, and very few Sahaba were on the correct path. However, the piousness of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.) and the other three Khalifas is mentioned in Qur’an and Hadith. Al Qur’an (Ch3, v195) (“Surah Al-Imran [03] – Translation and Transliteration – آل عمران”, 2021)
Were the Sahabas not the Muhajiroons? Ask the Shias and they will have no answer to the above verse. ALLAH (S.W.T.) has promised the Muhajiroons the paradise in which they will forever live.
- THE COMPANIONS (SAHABA) ARE PIOUS AND WILL ACCOMPANY PROPHET IN THE JANNAH (PARADISE): On numerous occasions, ‘Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.)’, ‘Hazrat Umar (R.A.)’, and ‘Hazrat Uthman (R.A.)’ tried to save Prophet from the evil plots of the enemies of Islam and fought against them. ‘Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq’ was the sahaba who accompanied our beloved Prophet at ‘Ghar-e-Saur’ when the ‘Kuffars’ were following them to kill. The whole of Islamic History is full of the events where the first three Khalifas have put their life at stake for Islam and Muhammad (S.A.W.). Plus, there are numerous other verses in the Quran and narrations of the Prophet (Hadith) that serve as the strong proof of the Sahaba on the right path of Islam. (Sahih al-Bukhari 3655)
- NIKAH MUTAH IS HARAM AND NO LONGER VALID: The ‘Nikah Mutah’ was valid in the initial days of Islam. After the ‘Fatah e Makkah’and during ‘Khaibar’, MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.) forbade the practice of ‘Mutah’ and declared it illegal (Abu Dawud, H.M.Saeed, Pg 283).
- Imam Mehdi is unknown and will reveal himself at the prescribed time: The belief of ‘Ahl e Tashayyo’ regarding Imam Zaman is false. Imam Mehdi will descend on Earth at the prescribed time by ALLAH (S.W.T.). However, Imam Mehdi’s real name will indeed be MUHAMMAD, and Imam Mehdi will be from Ahl e Bayt (lineage of Hazrat Hasan Ibn Ali). – Sunan Ibn Majah (4086), (Tirmidhi Sahih, Vol. 9, P. 74; Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 5, P. 207; also narrated by Ali ibn Abu Talib, Abu Sa’id, Umm Salma, Abu Hurayra)CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION
The deviant beliefs of Shia are many. The sect does not come under the boundaries of Islam. The reasons are many. While some Shias fight over the Khilafat of Hazrat Ali (R.A.), some Shias take Hazrat Ali to the extreme level. The other false and deviant beliefs of Shia are:
- Taqiyyah is valid and can be done under certain circumstances
- The current Qur’an is not complete and the remaining parts of the Qur’an were concealed by Hazrat Uthman (R.A.) (Naudhu Billah)
- When Imam Mahdi will appear, He will punish Hazrat Ayesha and bring the original Qur’an with him. (Naudhu Billah)
- Cursing the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet) is a rewarding act according to Shias.
Any Muslim with sound knowledge of the Qur’an and Hadith will definitely recognize the Shia sect of Islam as ‘Kafir’ and deviant.
The one following the path of the Qur’an, Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.), and the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet) is on the right path.
