Shia etymology
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| Shī‘a terms |
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- This is a sub-article of Shi'a Islam.
| Arabic |
| شیعه |
| Transliteration |
| Shi'a |
| Translation |
| follower/partisan |
Shi'a ("follower" or "partisan) as an Islamic term traces its etymology to the very first century of Islam.
Contents |
[edit] Transliteration
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The singular/adjective form of Shi‘ah (Arabic: شيعة) is Shi‘i (Arabic: شيعي). The apostrophe frequently used (e.g. Shi'a) is technically incorrect, since the Arabic letter is the ayin (ع), standardly represented with a grave accent (`), left half-circle (ʿ), or turned comma (‘). The apostrophe represents the hamza, which has a noted difference in pronunciation. The final Arabic letter is the ta' marbuta, which also causes difficulty in transliteration. It is often pronounced as a soft /h/ (e.g. Shi‘ah), but in a construct state, and in more classical Arabic, it is pronounced as a /t/ (e.g. Shi‘at ‘Ali). The ta' marbuta is frequently dropped in transliteration (e.g. Shia).
Due to the complexities of Arabic, there are approximately 30 possible transliterations of شيعة. For technical accuracy Shi‘ah is the preferred form. Using the Arabic chat alphabet, the transliteration is Shi3a.
[edit] Qur'anic usage
The Arabic term is also used in the Qur'an.
Here Shi'a is translated into way, a translation more emphasizing the term goes; "And most surely Abraham was among the Shi'a of him (i.e., Noah)"
Here Shi'a is translated into party, in reference to a partisan of Musa (Moses) who was aided.
Here Shi'a, in its plural form, is translated into sect.
[edit] History
[edit] Muhammad
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, a 16th century Sunni Islamic scholar provides a commentary for this tradition, saying:
| “ | The Shia of Ali are the Ahl al-Sunnah since they are those who love Ahl al-Bayt as Allah and His Prophet ordered. But others (i.e., other than Sunnis) are the enemies of Ahl al-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 Ahl al-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 Shia is a good reward! [2] | ” |
Above, "(those who) love outside the boundary of law" denotes what is presently known as Shi'a Islam. A more complete version of the tradition which is also included in Sunni sources is as follows:
[edit] Ali ibn Abi Talib
Imam Ali was the cousin of Muhammad, highly respected by both the Sunni and the Shia. Sunni-Muslims tend to view him as the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph, while the Shia-Muslims view him as the first Imam. In the book Nahj al-Balagha, which is a collection of Imam Ali's sermons viewed as authentic by the Shia, we read following:
| “ |
Ali says about his Shia: I always apprehended from you consequences of treachery and I had seen you through in the garb of the deceitful. [5] |
” |
[edit] Al-Hasan ibn Ali
Imam Hasan, the grandson of Muhammad, stated in connection with the Fitna[disambiguation needed] between him and Muawiyah:
| “ |
Imam Hassan said: By Allah, I think Muawiyyah would be better for me than these people who claim that they are my Shia. [6] |
” |
[edit] Imam Baqir
From Imam Baqir's, the Fifth Ahlul Bayt Imam and fourth grandson of Muhammad, conversation with Jabir al-Ju'afi
| “ | O Jabir! How can someone who claims to follow us [Ahlul Bayt] be content with only loving us? I Swear that our partisians (Shia) is one who carries out his duty to Allah and fears him. Our partisians (Shia) are known by their humility, modesty, exceeding remembrance of Allah, fasting, Prayer, being sympathetic and helpful towards the poor, their reading of the Quran, saying nothing about a person except concerning his good actions, and they are the most trustworthy among those close to them... [7] | ” |
From Imam Baqir's conversation with Sa'id ibn Al-Hassan.
| “ |
Baqir asked Sa'id: Does it happen to you that one of you approaches his brother and he puts his hand into his brothers pocket to take some money of which he is in need, without his brother preventing him? Sa'id answered I do not know of such a thing. Baqir said, Then truly, there are no real Shi'i among you. Sa'id asked Shall we all perish, in that case? Yes, answered Baqir, indeed, for such people do not put into action what they say [8] |
” |
[edit] Imam Jafar
From Imam Jafar, The Sixth Ahlul Bayt Imam and fifth grandson of Muhammad:
| “ | We do not count among the believers anyone unless he obeys all our commandments. Indeed, rightousness is the only sign of one who follows us. Adorn yourselves with it, and may Allah have mercy on you. [9] | ” |
Also:
| “ | Truly, a partisians (Shia) of Jafar is one who does not listen to his stomach, or to his carnal desires, who endeavours in the path of Islam, who acts for the sake of Allah, hoping only for his reward and fearing his Chastisement, Yes indeed, such are the partisians (Shia) of Jafar [10] | ” |
Also:
| “ | Our Shi'a are compassionate among each other. When they are alone or when they hold a private meeting, they remember Allah. Verily, the remembrance of us is of the remembrance of Allah. When we are remembered Allah has been remembered and when our enemy is remembered, Satan has been remembered. [11] | ” |
[edit] Imam Rida
- Imam Rida, The eight Ahlul Bayt Imam and seventh grandson of Muhammad:
| “ | Certainly, for every Imam there is a covenant incumbent on those who accepted their leadership and their (Real) Shi'a. Without a doubt, that which completes and perfects the fulfillment of the covenant is visitation of their graves. Those who visit them longingly as a (practical) acknowledgment of what they long for (in their hearts), their Imams shall certainly be their intercessors on the day of Rising [12] | ” |
[edit] References
- ^ Sunni Sources:
- a) Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p655,
- b) Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu'aym, v4, p329,
- c) History of Baghdad by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, v12, p289,
- d) al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani,
- e) Majma al-Zawa'id, by Ali ibn Abu Bakr al-Haythami, v10, pp 21-22,
- f) al-Darqunti, who said this tradition has been transmitted via numerous authorities.,
- g) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p247.
- ^ al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah Ch. 11, section 1, p236 [1]
- ^ Quran 98:7
- ^ Sunni Sources:
- a) al-Hafidh Jamaluddin al-Dharandi, on the authority of Ibn Abbas
- b) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, pp 246-247 [2]
- ^ Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 4
- ^ Shia source: al-Ihtijâj by Abu Mansur al-Tabarsî vol. 2 p. 290-291 (Mu'assasat al-A'lamî, Beirut 1989)
- ^ Shia Source; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 65
- ^ Shia Source; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 66
- ^ Shia Sources; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 66
- ^ Shia Source; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 67
- ^ Shia Source; Ziyarat Nahiya al-Muqadasa - Vahid Majd p. 11
- ^ Shia Source; Ziyarat Nahiya Al-Muqadasa - Vahid Majd p. 10
