|
One of the most perplexing scenarios to non-Muslims and new
Muslims alike is the division they may see between Shiites and Sunni Muslims. Some
tend to become confused when they see that each group claims to be following the
true Islam. To truly understand this subject to the fullest, one must delve
into the early history of Islam and see under what circumstances this division
actually began, a study far from possible for most people. Another way, much
more in the scope of the average person, is to analyze which group is true to
the teachings of Islam, a simple comparison may be done between Sunni and Shiite
beliefs and practices in relation to textual evidence, the Quran – the revealed
word of God, and the Sunnah – or teachings of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy
and blessings of God be upon him.
Many times, people see this division to be a major one,
while the fact remains that Shiites only make up a mere 8 percent of the Muslim
population, reaching even this figure after taking hold of certain important
political regions in history. Not a division, one can confidently say that the
Shiites are but one of the various splinter groups which left the pure
teachings of traditional Islam. Sunnis, on the other hand, are not a splinter
group, but merely name themselves as such to differentiate themselves from the
Shiites and other deviant sects.
The word “Sunni” itself comes from the term “Sunnah”,
explained earlier to be the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, for they are strict
in abiding by these teachings without any introductions, interpolations, or omissions.
The word Shiite (Shi’a in Arabic) means a “party”, “sect”, “supporters” or a “group
of like minded individuals”. God says in the Quran addressing His Prophet,
Muhammad:
“Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into
sects (Shi’a), you have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only
with Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do.” (Quran 6:159)
Although the specific groups called the Shiites is not
what is directly intended in this verse, it is inclusive of them.
When one studies a bit of history, they will see that
the term Shiite was first used amongst the Muslims in regards to a political
issue over which the Muslims varied, 37 years after the death of the Prophet. Although
the Shiites claim that their origin lies in that scenario, the actual term Shiite
being used to denote this specific sect actually occurred much later in history.
In either case, it is clear that the term was unheard of during the time of the
Prophet, and thus we can say that the Shiites were a group which appeared after
the death of the Prophet.
|
_001.jpg)
|
|
The Shrine of the
Zoroastrian, Abu Lu’lu’ah, in Kashan, Iran, venerated by Shiites
|
Over the long evolution of Shiite thought, they
incorporated many foreign concepts into their faith. Starting as a political
opinion which favored some views of Ali, the cousin of the Prophet, over some
other companions, it became a sect purporting strange ideas foreign to Islam. This
was due mainly to the fact that this ideology was mainly espoused by people in
areas far from the centers of Islamic learning, namely Persia, those who were
either new to Islam, had either converted to Islam nominally, and were living
in areas where a large percentage of people remained upon their previous
religions. Thus the Shiites became fertile soil to the introduction of foreign
ideas, which they struggled to incorporate into some aspects and beliefs maintained
by Islam, resulting in a sect composed of ideas stemming from Judaism,
Zoroastrianism and Islam. Not strange is it then that we see that one of the
most important shrines in Shiism visited by many Shiites is that of Abu Lu’lu’ah,
a Zoroastrian who died after the Caliphate of Umar, located in the city of Kashan
in present day Iran. Muhammad Ali Mu’zi, an Iranian Shiite researcher in France, stated:
“The basic
fundamentals of the Zoroastrian religion has entered into Shiaism even in some
minute issues. …And this relationship marked the brotherhood between Shiaism
and the ancient Magian Iran.”
We will now take a brief look at Shiism from just one
aspect, that of beliefs. From these few examples, one will clearly see how
different it truly is from the religion of Islam brought by Prophet Muhammad.
There are various articles of faith in Islam, and from
them branch other beliefs which must be held by all who attribute themselves to
Islam. They are as mentioned in the verse:
“…but piety is that one has firm belief in God, the Last Day,
the angels, the scriptures and the Prophets…” (Quran 2:177)
This is also mentioned in a statement of the Prophet,
may God praise him:
“Faith is that you believe in God, the angels, the scriptures,
the Prophets, the Last Day...” (Saheeh Muslim)
This short discourse will merely touch on some of these
various aspects of faith, and mention just some of the beliefs of the Shiites and
how they differ from Islam.
Belief in God
The proper belief about God, or creed is the most important
aspect of the religion of Islam. During the first 13 years of Muhammad’s
Prophethood, he corrected people’s beliefs about God, warning them against
calling to others besides God, whether angels, prophets, saints, martyrs,
trees, stones, stars, or idols. He clarified that only God alone, the One who
created them was to be worshipped. Very few legislations and acts of worship
were revealed for this period. The majority of the Quran itself calls to this
belief. God says in the Quran that calling to others besides Him is a sin
worthy of eternal damnation in Hellfire:
“Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah,
then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode.”
(Quran 5:72)
This is an uncompromising belief in Islam, and is the
basis from which one enters the fold of Islam. We find, however, that Shiites
believe in the veneration of others besides God. Homage is to be paid to great
saints and martyrs, such as Ali, Hussein, Fatimah, their Imams, and they are
directly called out to in times of need. They believe that they can answer
their calls as well as intervene for them with God, a belief that according to
Islam is clear disbelief.
God says:
“Is not He (God) Who responds to the distressed one, when he
calls Him, and Who removes the evil.” (Quran 27:62)
Another important tenet which Shiism clearly violates is
the concept that God Alone administers the affairs of the universe, and it is
He alone who knows the Unseen. Shiism attributes these powers to their leaders,
called Imams, and place them in a position higher than the Prophets and
angels. God says:
“Say: ‘None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen
except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected.” (Quran 27:65)
“And among His Signs is that He shows you the lightning, by
way of fear and hope, and He sends down water (rain) from the sky, and
therewith revives the earth after its death. Verily, in that are indeed signs
for a people who understand.” (Quran 30:24)
The Shiites give many of these attributes to their Imams.
Some of them even attribute lightning to be caused by them.
In authoritative Shiite texts, its states:
“The Imams have knowledge of whatever occurred in the
past and whatever will happen in the future, and nothing is concealed from them.”
(Al-Kulaini, Al-Kaafi, p.260)
“The Imams have knowledge of all the revealed books,
regardless of the languages in which they were revealed” (Ibid, p.227)
“The Imams know when they will die, and they do not die
except by their own choice” (Ibid, p.258)
“All of the earth belongs to the Imams.” (Ibid, p.407)
There are many aspects of faith in Shiism that oppose
Islam and which render a person out of its fold. Due to this reason, Muslims
do not consider Shiism to represent Islam, but rather believe it to contradict
the very basics of Islamic teachings.
|
