Views on Shia Islam

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There are several views on the Shi'a.

Contents

[edit] Negative views

[edit] Introduction

There are numerous books on history, literature, bibliography, etc - by both early and contemporary writers - that undermine the scholastic, literary, social, and cultural rights of the Shia. In cases where such works intend to discuss the works and virtues of the Shi'a, they fail in doing so and leave the facts about Shi'a and its intellectual legacy relatively untouched and unknown[1].

Researchers must be cautious in believing the contents of such works before careful scrutiny, as these works were often written by certain individuals motivated by their ambitions or bigotry[1], which resulted in fabrication, perversion, and calumny, therefore rendering their works unreliable [1]. The late religious authority of Egypt and president of Al-Azhar University, Sheikh Mahmud Shaltut, who declared the Shi'a twelver school of thought as a legitimate Islamic school of thought, also remarked:

Most of those who have written on Islamic denominations, have been influenced by the vicious spirit of prejudice.

Therefore anyone who cares about equity and fairness and wishes to study various Islamic denominations, should not base his opinions on such works, but instead must consult with the main books and sources of those denominations in order to approximate the truth and avoid mistakes.

It is an undeniable fact that the attention paid by Sunni Muslims to familiarize the world with Islam has been more than that of Shias. Sunnis retain many commendable achievements for this cause. However some of them have been affected by sectarian prejudice, thus portraying the Shi'a in a distorted way.

On the other hand, a phenomenon called orientalism and "Islamology" has existed for some time, the vanguards of which were individuals who were immediately assisted and collaborated by the agents of politics. The numerous extant distorted references and fabricated statements provided these people, in addition to their own ill intentions, to write anything they pleased. In the words of philosopher Seyyed Hosein Nasr:

Although western scholars have done extensive studies about various aspects of Islam and Islamic civilization in the past century, most of their works are full of bias and vicious intentions and distortive efforts are visible throughout them.[2]

Among the different groups, the Shi'a have been harmed more than any other Islamic denomination due to a lack of sufficient reliable references that are readily available to foreign researchers[1]. In the words of Edward Browne, "we still have no access to any detailed, sufficient, and reliable works on the Shi'i school of thought in any of the European languages."[3]

Shi'as contend and dispute the standard image portrayed for them by some, if not the majority, of western academic and Sunni sources [2].

[edit] Current sources on the Shi'a

Of the hundreds of contemporary academic sources that address matters pertaining to the Shi'a, "almost all resources used by Europeans in their studies about Islam are Sunni works"[2]. Whenever the Qur'an, hadith, history of Mohammad's life, fiqh, and kalam are touched on, it is the opinion of Sunni Muslims exclusively that is often taken as the standard version. It comes thus as no surprise that western scholars describe Sunni'ism as orthodox Islam and Shi'ism as a heretical sect[citation needed]. Sunni historians have always tried to, in the words of Marshall G.S. Hodgson, "show that all other schools of thought other than their own were not only false but, if possible, less than truly Muslim. Their work described innumerable firqahs in terms which readily misled modern scholars into supposing they were referring to so many heretical sects."[4]

On the other hand, what is often found on the Shi'a in some encyclopedias is full of errors, accusations, and superficial confused statements. Unfortunately, when these works are translated into Arabic, often by Sunni writers, they rarely add any footnotes pointing to these mistakes or shortcomings. This results in the spread of erroneous information that ultimately finds its way into even more sources, albeit inauthentic.

Furthermore, publications by Shi'i scholars remain comparably at low levels. To see this in a more visible light, it is educational to observe Dr. Abul-Jawad Falaturi's statements in this regard:

If we count all books and articles that have been published during the past 25 years in different European languages about Islam and Muslim countries--a task I performed based on Abstracta Islamica which listed all books published about Islam since 1943-- we can easily reach the conclusion that out of every 100 writings on Islam, only two relate to groups other than Sunni ones. Among this small number, one out of every seven work addresses The Twelver Shi'a. This means that out of every 350 books and articles, only one is specifically related to the Twelver Shi'a, a number even far less than The Zaidi or Ismaili Shia.[1]

Perhaps the historical background of the west is the major reason behind this blemish. The west had major direct contact with the Sunni form of Islam on almost all occasions, from Andalusia in the west to the Ottoman Turks in the east. Contacts with the Shi'a were confined to rather secret and rather limited relations with some Ismaili territories in Palestine during the crusades, but the west generally did not have any contact with the Shi'a world before the modern era. Islamic Iran, for example, only came to be known for the first time through the cultural acquaintance of India[citation needed].

[edit] Misconceptions about the Shi'a

A heated talk show discussion on Aljazeera between a Sunni Arab calling Saddam "our master", while attacking and accusing the fellow Shi'a Iraqi of being a "Persian". See video footage:
A heated talk show discussion on Aljazeera between a Sunni Arab calling Saddam "our master", while attacking and accusing the fellow Shi'a Iraqi of being a "Persian". See video footage:[5]
Fact: Shi'a disassociate (Tabarra) themselves from people they consider to be enemies of Allah and Muhammad's progeny (Ahl al-Bayt). The Prophets (AS) were greatest (of them, Muhammad, was the highest), and The Prophets (AS) mentions in a famous hadith that the only recompense he seeks is love for him and his Ahl-ul Bayt (people of his house) (AS). See also Qur'an 42:23 and 33:33. The Shi'a disassociate themselves from people who Sunnis consider to be righteous companions of Muhammad (AS) because the Sunnis' definition of a righteous companion does not adhere with the teachings of Muhammad (AS). More accurately, it can be stated that Shi'a and Sunni differ on who the companions of Muhammad were, and even among those agreed on, Shi'a do not consider all of them to be fully sincere because of their actions and hostile treatment toward the Prophet's family following his death. [7].
  • Misconception: The Shi'a are a political sect [8]
Fact: The Shi'a do not see themselves as a political sect, in fact, some interpretations of the Shi'a state that one should not get involved into politics before the re-emergence of the twelfth imam.
  • Misconception: The Shi'as apply the ancient Persian idea of royal inheritance to Muhammad's progeny and merely replace royal inheritance with Imamah.[citation needed]
Fact: Shia's do not believe that Imamat is inherited but instead individuals were chosen by Allah. This is why the brother might be chosen or the youngest child might be chosen which is not the case with royal inheritance.
  • Misconception: That the Shi'a believe that Gabriel made a mistake in bringing the revelation to Muhammad instead of Ali. That the Shi'a say "Gabriel betrayed"(Arabic: خان امين) after their prayer.
Fact: Shias say that "Allah is the greatest" (Arabic: الله اكبر) after their prayer and do not believe that angels or God can make mistakes. (For reference, See article http://al-islam.org/underattack/2.htm )[citation needed]
Fact: Shi'as believe that the Prophet was the greatest man who was and will be created. They believe the Imams were sent on this earth to continue preaching the message of the Holy Prophet(s); thus a full and exact knowledge of the message is required. Therefore, the Imams, who act as middlemen between God and His followers, must have the same knowledge of the message to be transmitted as the prophets who originally received the message in order to pass it on in its exact form. Also Allah (Swt) promised the people that He would never leave the ummah without a living guide, thus following the death of Muhammad (AS), Imam Ali (AS) was the rightful and appointed successor by the man himself.)
  • Misconception: That, similarly to Christian beliefs about Jesus, the Shi'a believe in the sacrifice of a sacred person by the name of Husayn ibn Ali, to save the Ummah from their sins [10].
Shi'a Answer: False. The words above are twisted and changed entirely with added and wrong meaning to portray a very wrong picture of a Shia scholarly theory that resembles in no way with what has been stated above. Even the original scholarly theory, though completely different in words and meaning, is not an obligatory belief of the Shia.
Shi'a Answer: This is a baseless claim.
  • Misconception: That the Shi'a are a Jewish sect [6].
Shi'a Answer: This fairy tale misconception is commonly used with the claim that ibn-e Saba was a Jew and that it was a Jewish conspiracy. This man was an extremist and his faith and the faith of the people in his small sect (see below) is not within the boundaries of Islam according to both Sunni and Shia schools of thought. See below, 'Ghulat' and 'Ibn Saba' for details. (See reference http://al-islam.org/underattack/5.htm Also see http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/ayesha/en/chap3.php and http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter10/1.html ),
  • Misconception: That the Shi'a believes that Ali is Allah
Fact: Although some minor sects do claim that Ali was a re-incarnation of Allah, Ali himself rejected this, and Shia and Sunnis both reject these groups as being outside the bounds of Islam. See 'Ghulat'.[11].
  • Misconception: Shi'a are Persians who hate Arabs [12].
Shi'a Answer: This is again incorrect. Islam has no room for racialism as documented by various books of the sayings of Muhammad. The Shia-Muslims are currently in majority in the Persian lands (Iran). The cruel Ummayyad Merwanid Abbasid Monarchs murdered and oppressed the Shia and the Descendants of the family of Muhammed (Banu Hashim, the clan of Muhammed and the Ahl-e Bayt, the People of the House, which include the 12 Imams) and drove them out of Hijaz, currently Saudi Arabi, long ago (See book, History of the Prophets and Kings, translated by Watt, Montgomery, written by Muhammad Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari, the oldest translations of his book were made in French. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarikh_al-Tabari See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_dynasty Rifts with the Shia). The Shia are not fond of Saddam Hussain as he was an admirer of the Umayyad and Abbasid works and according to him '..The survivors of the Karbala should have been finished with Imam Hussain and this whole matter would have ended there...'. Truth is, the Abbasid came into power using the Shia and when their monarchs, particularly, Al-Mansur ignored the religion of God and busied himself in stabilizing the regime and gaining power, the Shia leadership withdrew their support for the Abbasids. Without religious backing of the scholars, no one could have ruled the Arabian kingdom and thus the Sunni scholars were brought forth and their religious works were adopted as state religion and brutally enforced.
  • Misconception: Shi'a believe Fatimah had "her own" Qur'an [13]
Shi'a Answer: False. Any Muslim scholar can write their own Tafsir or detailed explanation of Qu'ran. It may have been a personal collection of explanation of the verses in Qur'an called Tafsir among other prayers which was what she heard from her father, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, through her life. Shi'a believe in the exact same arabic text Qur'an, with 114 chapters, as the one the Sunni possess today (See reference, Works of Sheikh Sadooq, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Sadooq ).
  • Misconception: That Ibn Saba founded Shia Islam [6].
Shi'a Answer: False. See 'Ghulat' mentioned above. In this fictional story woven by the claimants, they also claim that Ibn-e Saba killed the third caliph Usman and instated Ali bin Abi Talib as the fourth caliph of Islam, which is obviously a prepostrous attempt on history. (For reference, see http://al-islam.org/underattack/5.htm Also see http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter10/1.html )
  • Misconception: Shi'a slander A'isha, breaking Qura'nic rules.[6].
Shi'a Answer: False. Scroll the page further for an answer. (For reference, see http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/ayesha/en/index.php)

Such allegations have encouraged various orientalists and their followers such as Ahmad Amin to attack the Shi'a in their writings. Even the Encyclopaedia of Islam has not been immune from these attacks. One can find biased statements from the Belgian Henri Lammens (1862-1937) and the Hungarian Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921) in this encyclopedia against the Shi'a and their sanctities. According to Nasr, most parts of the two or three other books and discourses that exist in English are the products of the minds of several Christian missionaries "who have spent their lives trying to annihilate and refute the Shi'i thought" [2].

The very opinion of orientalists of the past century that considered the Shi'a form of deviation and heresy from true Islam (bid'ah) has thus come to be accepted in most western circles today[citation needed]. There are those that even consider the Shi'a as an "invention" by some particular groups.[14] However, these groups ignore history in that their own parent sects were a result of state sponsored Imams who were supposed to endeavor for God, and collect and record the sayings and life works of the Holy Prophet, much later on during the rule of the Abbasid monarchs (See reference, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarikh_al-Tabari ). Shia is not even a proper name for a sect as compared to their own. The name 'Shia of Ali' was what the rebels of those times liked to call those people who followed Ali bin Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph of Islam. The term 'Shia' has been carried on since then and the Arabic word 'Shia' can also be found in the Qur'an, e.g. 'Shia of Moses' (See Qur'an 28:15).

[edit] Arguments against the Shi'a

These are some arguments made against Shia's based on common misconceptions:

[edit] Sahaba

  • Claim: There could not be any hypocrites amongst those who Sunni consider Sahaba, since Muhammad or God would have known this. Claiming that the Sahaba were unrighteous equals making the same accusations against Muhammad and God [6]
Shi'a Answer: The Shia believe that Muhammad, through Divine guidance, knew that some of the companions were hypocrites so this claim is baseless. The chapter of Qur'an called The Hypocrites is an irrefutable proof that there indeed were hypocrites in the vast company of the Holy Prophet. The reason why most of these people were not pointed out is due to the delicate state Islam was in at it's birth, as it needed care and nurturing so the message could ultimately reach all of humanity.
  • Claim: Shi'a are contradicting themselves by insulting Abu Bakr and his daughter, but regarding his son as a good person, especially since he "does not have any contribution in raising Islam"[6].
Shi'a Answer: Shia do not believe that his son had "no contribution in raising Islam." Furthermore, not having a major contribution in "raising Islam" does not mean that you are a good or bad person. Instead it is purposely hindering of the true Islamic movement that reveals your bad intentions which is what Abu Bakr and Aisha did according to the Shia. God says 'We bring forth peace from chaos and chaos from peace'. No one calling themselves a Muslim scholar can deny the untainted works of early historians like 'Al-Tabari' that support Shia views.
  • Claim: By insulting Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman, Shi'a are destroying Islam, since Islam is transmitted through them [6].
Shi'a Answer: Islam is transmitted and preserved through the Prophets successors the 12 Imams who have maintained the sanctity of it's original principles (e.g., doing Justice in all things in life) and in their original form as instructed by the Holy Prophet. Human nature itself suggests that the modern day Sunni idea that the character of all the companions of the Prophet is examplarily pious, infallible and not open to comment is all but very doubtfull. Especially when that idea is contradicted by our holy book, the Qur'an, as mentioned above.
  • Claim: Shi'a are disbelievers for being enraged by the Sahaba [6].
Shi'a Answer: A baseless claim with no supportive evidence.
Shi'a Answer: A baseless claim with no supportive evidence.
  • Claim: Shi'a curse Ali by cursing Umar, since Umar was Alis son-in-law [6].
Shi'a Answer: Marital relations do not make one idealistically synonymous especially during those times. However, Umar was not Ali's son-in-law. The husband of umme kulthum (Ali's daughter) was Aun bin Ja'far and not Umar.
  • Claim: Shi'a curse Hasan by cursing Muawiya, since they negotiated peace [6].
Shi'a Answer: Imam Hassan, son of Ali ibn Abi Talib, was never fond of Muawiya because of his treachery and Muawiya later got him assassinated like his father before him. Muawiya's worst action was empowering his son Yazid who's notorious character and action is known to all and well documented even today. This also corrupted the very basic Islamic idea, that should have been the life support of it through time, that only the best of the Momineen, character and piety wise, can be Caliph, the rightly guided Imams, are qualified to be Caliphs of the Islamic state, but certainly not the power hungry monarchs who preceded Yazid and severely damaged Islam. This is the very basic Shia view of running the state and has been made the bone of contention by the Islamic state run by monarchs.

[edit] Muhammad's wives

  • Claim: Shi'a curse Muhammad's wives, "the most important part of his family" [6].
Shi'a Answer: Another baseless claim. Shia do not have negative views about all of Muhammads wives instead they view them as individuals who are responsible for their actions just like everyone else. But Shia do believe that the first three caliphs were usurpers and ignored the Khumm-e-Ghadeer public announcement by the Prophet that Ali bin Abi Talib is to succeed him. As Aisha, the daughter of the first caliph Abu Bakr, supported them, they do not take kindly to her, as she also raised an army against the fourth caliph and her son-in-law, Ali bin Abi Talib. Ali forgave Aisha but many Shias do not. The resulting civil war by the rebellion of Muawiya, the governor of Syria, claimed the lives (and perhaps faith) of a great many number of Muslims. (For reference, see http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/ayesha/en/index.php )

Aisha daughter of Abu Bakr and Hifza daughter of Umer, were both disobedient wives of prophet Muhammad. They tortured him, and therefore Allah scolded them in Quran. Read the commentary or tafseer of the following Ayat's in Quran, "O, you two wives of the prophet, your hearts are twisted".

[edit] Ahl al-Bayt

  • Claim: Shi'a depict Ali as weak, when they insist that Ali was robbed of his power, especially considering he had the upper hand, in contrast to Ali fighting for Islam when he was among the few in Mecca.[6].
Shi'a Answer: Imam Ali was never robbed of his power. No one can rob him of successorship just as no one can rob the prophet of prophethood. When he was entrusted with the Caliphate, in order to undo the innovations of the earlier Caliphs, Ali needed full public support, understanding and trust due to the delicate nature of such things. This could not be done because a lot of prominent companions of the Prophet were being martyred in the civil war, and most of this time was wasted by rebellions, until he himself was assassinated and Muawiya gained control after negotiating peace with Ali's son, Imam Hassan, who at that time did not have public support and favor like his father once did. Hassan was later poisoned and assassinated and the times of monarchy ensued. Earlier, after the death of the Holy Prophet, Ali, the Lion of God, did not use the sword in the matter, as he was forbidden to do so, for the sake of development of Islam.
  • Claim: Shia also take their Imams as gods other than Allah.[6].
Shi'a Answer: Absolutely false. Our Imams are of the family of the Prophet and rightly guided and true guidance may only be received through them. These are people who, like the Holy Prophet, spent their lives in service of God, in poverty and adverse conditions, always threatened by the Arabian monarchs. They are servants of God and guides to humanity. That is our faith.

[edit] Sources about the Shi'a

  1. Shi'ism: Doctrines, Thought, and Spirituality
  2. A Shi'ite Anthology
  3. Our Belief: A Brief Description of Islam, as the Shiite believe
  4. A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims
  5. Al-islam.org

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Message of Thaqalayn', Vol 3, No 1-2, p.121-122.
  2. ^ a b c d Shi'a in Islam, by Allameh Tabatabaei. Introduction by Seyed Hosein Nasr. SUNY publications. 2ED, 1979
  3. ^ A Literary History of Persia, by E.G. Browne. p418. 1998. ISBN 0-7007-0406-X
  4. ^ 7. The Venture of Islam, Hodgson, M.G.S., vol. 1. Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 1974. p. 27. ISBN 0-226-34683-8, p66-67
  5. ^ See link: [1]
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n http://islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/shia_answering.htm
  7. ^ al-Islam.org [2]
  8. ^ [3]
  9. ^ [4]
  10. ^ [5]
  11. ^ [6]
  12. ^ al-islam.org [7]
  13. ^ See "Sunni view" of Book of Fatimah for refutation
  14. ^ See articles by allaahuakbar.net [8]

[edit] External links

Shi'a:

Sunni:

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