Background To The Emergence Of Shisism

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A CORRECT APPRAISAL OF SHIAISM, A STUDY OF ITS BACKGROUND AND FACTORS LEADING TO ITS EMERGENCE IS MOST ESSENTIAL. THE SAME IS PRESENTED IN THE ENSUING PAGES AND IS MOSTLY BASED ON THE RESEARCH PAPER OF MUHAMMAD S. VAWDA OF MADRAS (INDIA) ENTITLED "SHIAISM", WITH SOME ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS HERE AND THERE.

SHI'AH MEANS A SECTION, A GROUP, A SCHISM, AND SHI'ISM IS A SEPARATIST MOVEMENT FROM ISLAM, WITH ITS OWN IDEOLOGY AND HAZRAT ALI (R.A.). AN ESSENTIAL BELIEF OF SHI'ISM IS IMAMMATE. IT IS OBLIGATORY FOR A SHI'AH TO BELIEVE IN TWELVE IMMAMS. THAT AGAINST ISMAILIA SHI'AH WHO BELIEVE IN SEVEN IMAMS AND CALL THEMSELVES "SABA'I"' I.E. SEVENERS.

AFTER THE DEMISE OF THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) IN 632 A.C., HAZRAT ABU BAKAR SIDDIQUE (R.A) WAS ELECTED AS CALIPH AND HE RULED FOR 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS AND 10 DAYS (632-634 A.C.), THEN HAZRAT OMAR (R.A) SUCCEEDED HIM AND RULED FOR 10 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS (634-644) AND THEN HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A). RULED FOR 12 YEARS AND LASTLY, HAZRAT ALI (R.A) WAS ELECTED AND HE RULED FOR 4 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS (656-661).

THE TRIBAL RIVALRY BETWEEN BANU HASHIM AND BANU NMAYYA, THE TWO LEADING TRIBES OF ARABIA, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SAW) REMAINED DORMANT AND SUB-JUGATED TO THE OVERALL INTEREST OF ISLAM. HOWEVER, DURING THE LATER PERIOD OF HAZRAT OTHMAN'S (R.A) CALIPHATE, ADVENTUROUS GROUPS RAISED THEIR UGLY HEADS AND A CAMPAIGN OF VILIFICATION WAS WAGED AGAINST HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A) THAT HE HAD INDULGED IN NEPOTISM AND FAVOURITIISM AND BANU UMAYYA'S WERE APPOINTED TO ALL KEY POSTS OF THE STATE TO THE EXCLUSION OF MANU HASHIM. ALL THESE ALLEGATIONS WERE ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE OR HIGHLY EXAGGERATED. HOWEVER, THIS CAUSE OF COMPLAINT ON THE PART OF THE HASHIMITE GENERATED UNDERCURRENT OF RUMBLINGS, AND AT THIS JUNCTURE A VERY SHREWD MAN BY THE NAME OF ABDULLAH IBN SABA APPEARED ON THE SCENE. HE WAS A JEW OF SAN'A IN YEMEN, AND WAS A SCHOLAR OF JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES AND VERY FLUENT IN ARABIC. HE OUTWARDLY PROFESSED ISLAM, BUT INWARDLY WAS A VERY BIGOTED UN-BELIEVER. HE WAS INTENT ON TAKING REVENGE FROM ISLAM AND MUSLIMS WHO HAD UPROOTED JUDAISM FROM ARABIA AND SUBJUGAGED JEWISH PEOPLE EVERYWHERE IN ITS DOMAIN. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HASHIMITE DISCONTENT HE INDULGED IN SECRET PLOTS TO RAISE PEOPLE AGAINST HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A) ON THE PLEA OF INJUSTICE METED OUT TO BANU HASHIM. IT WAS A CONSPIRACY IN REALITY AGAINST ISLAM. ABDULLAH IBN SABA SENT HIS AGENT PROVOCATEURS ALL OVER THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE AND PREPARED GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO MARCH ON MEDINA AND KILL HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A) AND APPOINT HAZRAT ALI (R.A) WAS MARTYRED. AT THAT TIME HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A) WAS RECITING THE HOLY QUR'AN, ND WHEN THE REBELS SURROUNDED HIS HOUSE, EVEN THEN HE DID NOT ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF MEDINA TO WAGE A DEFENSIVE WAR AGAINST THE REBELS AS HE WANTED TO AVOID INTERNECINE BLOODSHED AMONG THE MUSLIMS. HE TRIED TO ASSUAGE THE FEELINGS OF THE REBELS BY PERSUASION AND ROUSING ISLAMIC BROTHERLY SENTIMENTS AMONG THEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THUS THE THIRD CALIPH WAS MARTYRED. THEN HAZRAT ALI (R.A) WAS APPOINTED AS THE FOURTH CALIPH. HAZRAT ALI (R.A) HAD NO HAND IN THE AFFAIRS THAT LED TO THE MARTYRDOM OF HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A) AND THE ELECTION OF HAZRAT ALI (R.A) AS CALIPH, A GROUP OF MUSLIMS LED BY HAZRAT AYESHA (R.A) DEMANDED PUNITIVE ACTION AGAINST THE REBELS WHO ROSE AGAINST HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A) AND MARTYRED HIM.

AS AT THAT TIME CHOATIC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND MEDINA THE SEAT OF CALIPHATE WAS DOMINATED BY REBEL ELEMENTS, HAZRAT ALI (R.A) COULD NOT TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM. THE GROUP LED BY HAZRAT AYESHA (R.A) PLEADED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. IN VIEW OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING CREATED BY THE PLOTTERS, HADHRAT ALI SENT HIS ARMY TO HALT THE ADVANCE OF PEOPLE LED BY HADHRAT AYESHA (R.A) BUT WITH THE STRICT ORDERS NOT TO INITIATE WAR. THERE WAS A BRIGHT CHANCE OF A RAPPROACHMENT AS HAZRAT ALI (R.A) PROMISED TO TAKE REVENGE AGAINST KILLERS OF HAZRAT OTHMAN (R.A) WHEN HE GOT FULL CONTROL OVER THE CHOATIC CONDITION, BUT THE SABAI ELEMENTS (I.E. HENCHMEN OF ABDULLAH IBN SABAH) IN HAZRAT ALI'S (R.A) ARMY DID NOT HEED HAZRAT ALI'S (R.A) ADVICE AND ATTACKED HAZRAT OUT AND ABOUT TEN THOUSAND PRECIOUS LIVES WERE LOST IN THIS BATTLE. THIS WAS CALLED THE BATTLE OF THE CAMEL AS HAZRAT AYESHA (R.A) RODE A CAMEL IN HOWDAH.

HAZARAT ALI (RA) WENT TO HAZRAT AYESHA (RA) WHO WAS ALSO REPENTENT FOR ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED AND BY DIRECT TALK BETWEEN HAZRAT ALI (RA) AND HAZRAT AYESHA (RA) THIER MISUNDERSTANDING WAS CLEARED AND HAZRAT AYESHA (RA) WAS ESCORTED SAFELY TO MEDINA.

ON ASSUMPTION OF CALIPHATE, HAZRAT ALI (RA) DISMISSED ALL THE UMAYYITE GOVERNORS INCLUDING AMIR MAUVIYAH (RA) FROM SYRIA. THIS LED TO DISCONTENT AMONG THE UMAYYITES AND AMIR MUAVIYAH (RA), GOVERNOR OF SYRIA, EXPRESSED HIS INABILITY TO SUBMIT OR RECOGNISE HAZRAT ALI (RA) AS CALIPH UNTIL AND UNLESS FULL REVENGE WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE ASSASSINS OF HAZRAT OTHMAN (RA).

THIS LED TO ANOTHER WAR CALLED THE WAR OF SIFFEEN. THIS WAR COST NINETY THOUSAND VALUABLE LIVES ON BOTH SIDES. THEN AT THE INTERVENTION OF INFLUENTIAL PERSONS, BOTH SIDES AGREED TO AN ARMISTICE AND THE DISPUTE WAS ASSIGNED TO ARBITRATION OF TWO PERSONS, HAZRAT AMAR BIN ALAAS (RA) FROM SYRIAN SIDE AND HAZRAT ABU MUSA ASHARI (RA) FROM HAZRAT ALI'S (RA) SIDE. A GROUP FROM HAZRAT ALI'S SIDE RAISED A STRONG OBJECTION TO THIS ARMISTICE AND ARBITRATION AND ON HAZRAT ALI'S (RA) REFUSAL TO RECANT, THEY TURNED AGAINST HAZRAT ALI (RA) AND FORMED A GROUP CALLED "KHWRIJIITTES." BOTH THE ARBITRATORS, VIZ HAZRAT'S ABU MUSA ASHRI AND AMAR BIN ALAAS WERE SENIOR AND ILLUSTRIOUS SAHABAH OF RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) AND THEY AFTER SIX MONTHS HECTIC CONSULTATION AND DELIBRATIONS ARRIVED AT A CONSENSUS AND WRITTEN AGREEMENT WHICH THE SHIAS AND THEIR ILK HAVE WASHED OUT FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY AND INSTEAD GIVEN VOGUE TO CERTAIN CONCOCTED VERSIONS WHICH CAST ASPERSIONS ON THE INTEGRITY OF THESE HOLY PERSONAGES. FOR INSTANCE THEY SAY THAT AMAR BIN ALAAS WAS A CERY CUNNING, SHREWED AND DECEPTIVE PERSON AND ABU MUSSA ASHRI A SIMPLTON, IDIOT AND TACTLESS PERSON WHO WAS DODGED BY AMAR BIN ALAAS TO GET DECISION IN FAVOUR OF HIS CLIENT. ALL THIS IS IS NONSENSE AND IS ONLY INTENDED TO AROUSE ILL FEELINGS AGAINST THE SAHABAH. IT MAY BE MENTINED HERE THAT THE FACTS OF TAHREEM (ARBITRATION) AND KARBALA HAVE BEEN DISTORTED SO MUCH BY THE SHIAS THAT NO SUCH PARALLEL IS TO BE FOUND IN THE HISTORY OF ISLAM.

THE FACT IS THAT TILL THE TIME OF THE BATTLE OF SIFFEEN, AMIR MAUVIYAH HAD NOT LAID ANY CLAIMS TO CALIPHATE ; HE HAD ARISEN ONLY FOR AVENGING THE MURDER OF INNOCENT CALIPH OTHMAN (RA). HE HAD MADE IT CLEAR IN HIS SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS THAT HE WILL BE THE FIRST TO OWE ALLEGIANCE TO HADHRAT ALI IF THE ASSASSINS OF HADHRAT OTHMAN ARE HANDED OVER TO THEM (VOL-VII, PAGE 259 ). THE ARBITRATORS WERE NOT APPOINTED TO DETERMINE AS TO WHO SHOULD BE THE CALIPH AS AMIR MAUVIYAH WAS NOT A CONTESTANT FOR CALIPHATE AT THAT TIME. THE TASK BEFORE THEM WAS TO RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HAZRAT ALI AND AMIR MUAVIYAH AS THE LATTER WAS ONLY CONTESTANT FOR AVENGING THE MURDER OF HADHRAT OTHMAN WHILE HADHRAT ALI'S CONTENTION WAS THAT AT THAT MOMENT HE WAS SURROUNDED BY UNFACOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT HE (AMIR MUAVIYAH) SHOULD OWE ALLEGIANCE TO HIM FIRST AND THEN AT A LATER STAGE HE (HAZRAT ALI) WOULD DEAL WITH THE ASSASSINS OF HAZRAT OTHMAN WHEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE FAVOURABLE BUT AMIR MUAVIYAH WAS NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT THIS PLEA.

BOTH THE ARBITRATORS WERE UNANIMOUS THAT BOTH HADHRAT ALI & AMIR MUAVIYAH WERE RIGHT AND BOTH WERE SINCERE IN THEIR PROFESSIONS ; AMIR MUAVIYAH IN DEMANDING AVENGING THE MURDER OF INNOCENT CALIPH OTHMAN (RA) AND HADHRAT ALI IN ASKING OATH OF ALLEGIANCE FROM AMIR MAUVIYAH. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO WERE OF THE NATURE OF LITEHAD AND IN SUCH SITUATIONS ACCORDING TO SHARI'AH ONE GETS REWARD ON ACCOUNT OF HONEST DIFFERENCE OF OPINION EVEN IF ONE'S JUDGEMENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A CORRECT ONE. HENCE THE ARBITRATORS HAD REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT IN THEIR ASSESSMENT THE CALIPHATE OF HADHRAT ALI IS VALID AND JUSTIFIED AND SO IS THE DEMAND OF AMIR MUAVIYAH FOR AVENGING THE MURDER OF HADHRAT OTHMAN. AS SUCH BOTH SHOULD BE DISPOSSESSED OF THEIR CLAIMS I.E. AMIR MUAVIYAH FROM DEMANDING REVENGE AGAINST THE ASSASSINS OF HADHRAT OTHMAN AND HADHRAT ALI FROM USING FORCE FOR TAKING OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. AND PENDING HOLDING OF NEW ELECTIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF CALIPHATE BOTH SIDES SHOULD CONTINUE TO GOVERN TERRITORITIES UNDER THEIR CONTROL AND LIVE PEACEFULL. PP 174 178 & VOL-7 P. 283 ).

THIS WAS IN REALITY THE VERDICT OF THE ARBITRATORS' WHICH THE SHIAS HAVE TWISTED AND GIVEN IT A DIFFERENT COLOUR TO BRING BAD NAME AND DISREPUTE TO THE SAHBAH. ACCORDING TO AHLESUNNAH BOTH HAZRAT ALI AND AMIR MUAVIYAH WERE ON THE RIGHT BUT SOMEHOW FELL VICTIM TO ERROR OF JUDGEMENT ; AMIR MUAVIYAH TOOK IN HIS HANDS THE QUESTION OF AVENGING THE MURDER OF INNOCENT CALIPH OTHMAN AND HADHRAT ALI FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER COULD NOT DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE DESPITE BEING IN AUTHORITY WHICH CAUSED DOUBTS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS. THIS LATER LED TO THE UNFORUNATE INCIDENTS OF JAMAL AND SIFFIN.

HOW THESE TWO SHOULD NOT BE ON THE WRONG IS BORNE OUT FROM THE FACT THAT HADHRAT ALI IS THE SON-IN-LAW OF RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) AND AMONG THE (I.E. THE TEN COMPANIONS WHO HAD BEEN GREETED WITH THE AWARD OF PARADISE) AND SAYYEDNA MUAVIYAH IS THE REAL BROTHER OF RASUL-ALLAH'S WIFE UMM HABIBAH AND BY THIS TOKEN IS THE MATERNAL UNCLE OF THE ENTIRE UMMAH. RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) SAID OF MAUAVIYAH, 'O ALLAH ! MAKE HIM A GUIDE WHO IS RIGHTLY GUIDED AND GUIDE OTHERS BY HIM". (TIRMIDHI.) HENCE WE HAVE COME TO KNOW THROUGH RELIABLE SOURCES, THAT BOTH WERE SINCEAE AND HAD THE WELFARE OF THE UMMAH IN THEIR HEARTS. ONCE HADHRAT ALI WAS ASKED ABOUT THE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED (ON BOTH SIDES) IN THE BATTLES OF JAMAL AND SIFFIN AND REPLIED : BY ALLAH ! ALL THESE PEOPLE WOULD GO TO PARADISE PROVIDED THEIR HEARTS USMAN ARE NATURALLY EXCLUDED FROM THIS PREDICTION AS THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE STRIFE AND BLOODSHED. THAT IS WHY ISLAM DOES NOT TOLERATE, MISCHIEFMONGERING ( ) FOR A WHILE. THE HOLY QUR'AN SAYS "FITAN (FATAL MISCHIEF) IS WORSE THAN SLAUGHTER"

THE VERDICT OF ARBITRATORS WAS ANNOUNCED AT A PLACE CALLED ADZRAK IN RAMADAN 37 H ( IN SOME NARRATION SHABAN 37 H) IN THE PRESENCE OF 400 REPRESENTATIVE EACH FROM BOTH SIDES WHO HAD GATHERED THERE FOR THIS PURPOSE INCLUDING NEUTRAL SAHABAH LIKE HADHRAT SAAD BIN WAQAS, ABDULLAH BIN UMAR, MUGHIRA BIN SHABA, IMRAN BIN HASSANAIN ETC. THERE WAS NO DISTURBANCE ON THIS OCCASION AS ALLEGED BY THE SHIA HISTORIANS AND VERDICT OF THE ARBITRATORS WAS APPRECIATED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO PARTIES AND IT CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TOWARDS LESSENING TENTION BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND ARMIWS WHICH HAD RETURNED FROM SHIFFIN AFTERWARDS NEVER CONFRONTED EACH OTHER.

HAZRAT ALI'S (R.Z) CALIPHATE WAS HOWEVER, IN A VERY PRECARIOUS STATE AND THE KHWARJITIES HAVING SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM HAZRAT ALI (R.Z) INDULGED IN VIOLENT BLOODSHED EVERYWHERE. HAZRAT ALI (R.Z) HAD TO SEND HIS FORCES TO CONTAIN THE KHWRTJITIES AND AFTER A GOOD DEAL OF BLOODSHED THE KHWARJITIES WERE VANQUISHED. AFTER THAT HAZRAT ALI (R.A) WANTED TO MARCH ON TO SYRIA BUT HIS ARMY BEGAN TO DESERT HIM. IN VIEW OF THAT HAZRAT ALI (R.A) DEFFERRED HIS INTENTION OF MARCING ON SYRIA AND CAME BACK TO THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OF THE CALIPHEATE AT DUFA IN IRAQ. ON THE OTHER HAND, AMIR MUAVIYAH'S (R.A) FORCES REMAAINED LOYAL AND INTACT; AND ON ACCOUNT OF HOSTILITY CREATED AMONG PEOPLE BY MUHAMMAD BIN ABU BANKR, THE NEW GOVERNOR OF EGYPT HADHRAT OTHMAN, AMIR MUAVIYAH'S (R.A) FORCES OCCUPIED EGYPT. INTERAL STRIFE. IN THE MENATIME HEJAZ, IRAQ AND YEMEN SURRENDERED TO HAZRAT AMIR MUAVIYAH'S FORCES. IRAN ALSO REFUSED TO PAY TITHE AND TAXES TO HAXRAT LI (R.A). DUE TO THIS INTERNECINE WAR AND STRIFE A GROUP OF KHWARJITES DECIDED TO GET RID TO THREE PERSONS CONSIDERED BY THEM TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE CHAOS AND STRIFE. THEY RESOLVED TO KEL HAZRAT ALI, MUAVIYAH AND AMAR BIN ALAAS (R.A) AS IN THEIR OPINION, THERE COULD NEVER BE PEACE AS LONG AS THEY LIVED. A DATE-1TH RAMADHAN-WAS FIXED FOR THE TASK. THEY APPOINTED THREE PERSONS TO CARRY OUT THE KILLINGS. ONE ABDURAPPOINTED THREE PERSONS TO CARRY OUT THE KILLINGS. ONE ABDURRAHMAN IBN MULJAM, MORTALLY WOUNDED HAZRAT ALI (R.A) WHILE HE WAS OFFERING MORNIG PRAYERS AND WAS IN PROSTRATION. HAZRAT LI (R.A) COULD NOT SURVIVE THE FATAL AND POISIONOUS STROKES OF THE KILLER'S SEIMITAR. HAZRAT MUAVIYAH (R.A) WAS ATTACKED IN DAMASCUS WHILE COMING OUT OF MOSQUE, BUT RECEIVED ONLY SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS AND SURVIVED. THE THRID VICTIM, AMAR BIN ALASS (R.A) AND WAS KILLED.

AFTER HAZRAT LI'S (R.A) MARTYRDOM, PEOPLE TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AT THE HANDS OF HAZRAT HASAN (R.A) THOUGHT IT WISE TO MAKE PEACE ITH HAZRAT MUAVIYAH (R.A). IN HIS TURN MUAIYAH (R.A) SENT HAZRAT HASAN (R.A) A BLANK PAPER, A CARTE-BLANCHE TO WRITE OUT TE4RMS OF SETTLEMENT AS HAZART HASAN (R.A) PLEASED. HE WROTE OUT:

1. THAT PEOPLE OF IRAQ BE GIVEN FULL AMNESTY.

2. THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO TOOK PART IN THE PAST STRIFES AND WARS BE PARDONED .

3. THAT THE REVENUE OF THE PROVINCE OF AHWAX BE GIVEN TO HIM (HAZRAT HASAN-R.A).

4. THAT HAZRAT HUSAIN (R.A) HIS BROTHER, BE GIVEN 2 MILLION DIRHAMS AS YEARLY PENSION AND LASTLY,

5. THAT IN THE STATE DISPENSATION, BANU HASHIM BE GIVEN PRIORITY.

HAZRAT AMIR MUAVYAH (R.A) ACCEPTED THESE TERMS WITHOUT ANY HESITATION, AND THUS CAME TO AN END THE INTERNECINE WARFARE ON 7TH RABI I, 41 HIJIRA AND THE HOLY PROPHET'S PROPHESY ABUT HAXRAT HASSAN (R.A) CAME TRUE THAT THERE SHALL COME ABOUT PEACE BETWEEN TOW FIGHTING GROUPS OF MUSLIMS.

HAZRAT ALI (R.A) NO DOUBT WAS A VERY NOBLE, VIRTUOUS AND CHIVALROUS PERSON, BUT DUE TO ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANXES THAT PERVALIED JUST BEFORE AND AT THE TIME OF ASSUMPTION OF HIS CALIPHATE, HE WAS UNABLE TO HANDLE THE AFFARIS OF THE VAST ISLAMIC EMPIRE WITH ITS HETEROGENEOUS ELEMENTS AS COULD HAVE BEEN XPECTED OF A PERSON OF HIS CALIBRE. ALAS DUE TO THE UNFORTUNATE MARTYRDOM OF HAXRAT OTHMAN (R.A) AND CONSEQUENT BETTERNESS, STRIFE AND WARFARE, THE MOMENTUM OF ISLAMIC MARCH FORWARD COME TO A STOP.

THIS BRIEFLY IS THE BACKROUND OF THE HAPPENINGS THAT LED TO THE EMERGENCE OF SHI'ISM THE BITTERNESS AND THE STRIFE LED PEOPLE INTO TOW GORUPS, AND THE SHREWD AND SCHEMING JELEMENTS UNDER THE INFLUENCE JOF ABDULLA IBN SABA TURNED THE POLITICAL DIFFERENCE INTO RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY. THEY INTRODUCED INTO THE ISLAMIC CREED (R.A) AND HIS POSTERITY. HAXRAT ALI (R.A), NEVER BELIEVED IN THIS IDEOLOY. HE WAS AS GOOD A BELIEVER IN ISLAM AS THE FIRST THREE CALIPHS AND THE GNEERALITY OF MUSLIMS HAD BEEN. IN THE PURE ISLAM AS PREACHED AND PRACTISED BY THE HOLY PROPHET AND HIS RESPECTED COMPANIONS, THERE IS ON MENTION OF IMAAMAT OF HAZRAT ALI (R.A) AND HIS POSTERITY AS SINE QUA NON OF ISLAMIC BELIEFS.

ABDULAH IBN SABA'S FOLLOWERS TOOK TO UNDERGROUND CONSPIRACY AGAINST ISLRN AND THE ISLAMIC STATE. THEY ASSUMED THE OPPOSITION'S ROLE AND SENT THEIR EMISSARIES EVERYWHERE IN ISLAIMC LANDS AND PREACHED THE SHI'ITE DOCTRINE OF IMAMATE.

HAZRAT HUSAIN (R.Z) WAS MISIED BY THE KUFIS WHO PROMISED ALL SUPPORT TO MAKE HIM RIGHTFUL CALIPH. IT WAS IN THE REIGN OF YAZID, SON OF MUAVIYAH, THAT HAZRAT HUSEIN (R.Z) WENT TOWARDS KUFA IN IRAQ, HOPING TO GET THEIR FULL SUPPORT AS PROMISED BY THEM THROUGH PRESSING PRESSING INVITATIONS. HAZRAT HUSEIN (R.Z) WENT TO KARBALA (IN IRAQ) ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, HAD CONFRONTATION AND WAS MARTYRE THERE. THE KUFIIFIES FULLY BETRAYED HIM; THUS THE TRAGEDY OF KARBALA WAS ENAZTED, ON THE 10TH DAY OF MUHARRAM (ASHURA) IN THE HIJRA YEAR 61 (650 CE). THIS GAVE THE OPPONENTS A GREAT CHANCE TO PROPAGATE THEIR NEW-FANGLED CREED OF SHI;ISM. IT WAS SPREAD CLANDESTINELY ALL OVER THE MUSLIM LANDS. IT TOOK IN PERSIA WHICH WAS PHYSICALLY CONQUERED BY THE ARABS, BUT ISLAMIC IDEOLOGY WAS NOT FULLY IMBIBED BY THEN. THEY HATCHED HATCHED HATRED AGAINST THE ARABS AND THIS NEW-FANGLED CREED OF SHI'ISM CAUGHT THEIR IMAGINATION.

THE SHI'ITE CREED CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) BELIEF IN IMAAMAT OF HAZRAT ALI (R.Z) AND HIS POSTERITY.

(2) THE LOVE OF AHLE-BAIT, THE POSTERITY OF THE HOLY PROPHET THROUGH HAZRAT ALI (R.Z), HAZRAT FATIMS (R.Z) HAZRAT HASSAN (R.Z) AND HAZRAT HUSSAIN (R.Z).

(3) HAZRAT ALI (R.Z) IS ORDAINED BY ALLAH AS SUCCESSOR TO THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W).

(4) THE FIRST THREE CALIPHS WERE USURPERS, THEREFORE ARE CONSIDERED UNBELIEVERS AND RENEGADES.

(5) HAZRAT ALI (R.Z) IS AN UNINTERRUPTED CALIPH.

THE SHI'ITES AGITATION WENT ON GAINING GROUND IN PERSIA, SOME PARTS OF IRAQ AND YEMEN, AND THUS A GROUP CALLED SHI'ITES CAME INTO BEING. THEY BEGAN TO CLAMOUR FOR REINSTATEMENT OF CALIPHATE AS RIGHTFUL DUE OF HAZRAT ALI (R.A) AND HIS PROSTERITY, AND A GREAT EXAGGERATION WAS MADE ABOUT HAZRAT ALI'S (R.A) STATUS AND PERSONALITY AND EVEN HAZRAT ALI (R.A) WAS DEFIED.

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE SHI'ITES

IMAAMAT: THE CORNER-STONE OF SHI-ISM IS THE BELIEF IN THE IMAAMAT OF HAZRAT ALI (R.A) AND HIS POSTERITY. ACCORDING TO SHIA BELIEF, NOBODY CAN BE CONSIDERED A MOMIN (A TRUE BELIEVER) UNLESS HE SUBSCRIBES TO THIS BELIEF.

THE SHI'ITES BELIEVE IMAAMS AND THE SABAIS (ISMAILIST) BELIEVE IN SEVEN IMAAMS AS MENTIONED BELOW:

TWELVES IMAAMS SEVEN (ISMAILIS) IMAAMS

(1) ALI (1) ALI
(2) HASAN (2) HASAN
(3) HUSEIN (3) HUSEIN
(4) ZAINUL AABEDEEN (4) ZAINUL AABEDEEN
(5) MUHAMMAD BIN ALI(5) MUHAMMAD BIN ALI
ALSO CALLED BAQIR AND JAFFER
(6) JAFFER SADIQUE (6) JAFFER SADIQUE
(7) MUSA KAZIM (7) ISMAIL
(ELDER SON OF JAFAR SIDDIQUE) HENCE THEY ARE CALLED ISMAILIS

(8) ALI SABIR
(9) MUHAMMAD TAQI
(10) ALI NAQI
(11) HASSAN ZAKI
(12) MUHAMMAD MEHDI
HE 12TH IMAAM WHO LIVES UNDERGROUND IN A CAVE
(CALLED SARRA MAN RAA (BE HE PLASED WHO SAW THE SAME).

IT IS ALSO BELIEVED BY THE SHI'ITES THAT THE 12TH IMAAM --- ALSO CALLED THE "AWAITED IMAAM MEHDI" (BORN IN HIJRA 356) BY ORDER OF ALLAH REMAINS UNDERGROUND FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS AND SHALL APPEAR AT ALLAH'S WILL. IT WILL BE NEAR DOOMSDAY, AND HE WILL DESTROY ALL THE FALSE CREEDS AND SPREAD ISLAM EVERYWHERE (AQAID-US-SHIA).

PRAYERS: AS AGAINST THE SUNNITES 5 TIMES, THE SHI-ITES OFFER 3 TIMES PRAYERS I.E. (1) . FAJAR (MORNING), (2) . ZOHAR, AND ASAR TOGETHER, AND (3). MAGRIB AND ISHA TOGETHER. WHILE OFFERING PRAYERS THE SHI-ITES DO NOT BIND THEIR HANDS BUT KEEP THEM LOOSE. ACCORDING TO KHOMENI VIDE VOL. I, P. 186 "BINDING OF HANDS, AS IS DONE BY PEOPLE OTHER THAN SHIAS, RENDER PRAYER INVALID ALTHOGUH IT IS ALRIGHT IN CASE OF TAQIYAH." WHILE PROSTRATING THE SHIAS EEP TABLETS OF CLAY COLLECTED FROM KARBALA IN FRONT AND PLACE THEIR FORE-HEADS ON THEM.

THE SHIAS DO NOT PRAY BEHIND THE SUNNI IMAM ALTHOUGH SUNNI MUSLIMS IN IRAN ESPECIALLY IN TEHRAN ARE BEING COMPELLED TO PRAY BEHIND SHIA IMAM ON FRIDAYS.

ADHAN: IN ADHAN -- THE CALL TO PRAYERS, AFTER

"I TESTIFY THAT MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH", THE SHI'ITES ANNOUNCE,

"I TESTIFY THAT ALI IS ALLAH'S FRIEND AND ORDAINED HEIR TO THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH AND HIS CALIPH WITHOUT INTERRUPTION".

SALUTATION: (DARUD-SHARIF). THE SHI'ITES INVOKE SALUTATIONS ON THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD AND HIS POSTERITY TO THE EXCLUSION OF HIS WIVES AND COMPANIONS.

ZAKAT: THE SHI'ITES ARE ORDERED TO PAY THEIR ZAAKAT ONLY TO SHIAS (TOHFATUL AWWAM). THUS THE SHIAS EXCLUDE SUNNI MUSLIMS FROM THE MAIN BODY-POLITIC OF ISLAM !

PILGRIMAGE -- (HAJ): THEY PERFORM HAJ. AFTER HAJ THE SHI'ITES LAY GREAT STRESS ON VISITS TO THE MAUSOLEUM OF HADHRAT HUSEIN (R.A) AT KARBALA -- SUCH A VISITOR WILL GO TO PARADISE AHEAD OF OTHERS BY 40 YEARS AND IT IS TANTAMOUNT TO 10 HAJ AND 10 UMRA (TOHAFATUL AWWAM). ACCORDING TO SHIA BELIEF KARBALA IS MORE SACRED AND SUPERB THAN KA'BA ("HAQUL YAQEEN, p.145).

JIHAAD -- IT IS NOW LAWFUL TO ENGAGE IN RELIGIOUS WARS THESE DAYS. THE PRE-CONDITION TO JIHAD IS THAT IT MUST BE LED BY THE IMAAM. WHEN THE IMAAM MEHDI WILL REAPPEAR FROM HIS HIDDEN CAVE, HE WILL LEAD PEOPLE IN JIHAD (THE HOLY WAR OR CRUSADE).

KHOMENI WHO IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE DEPUTY IMAM OF IMAM MEHDI OR FORE-RUNNER OF IMAM MEHDI IS NOW WAGING A "HOLY WAR" AGAINST IRAQ TO BE FOLLOWED BY AGAINST OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES. THEIR INTENTION IS TO CONTROL THE HOLY PLACES OF MUSLIMS (HARMAIN SHARIF) AND TO SUBJUGATE MUSLIMS TO THEIR CREED. THE MUSLIMS MUST SEE THE WRITINGS ON THE WALL AND PREPARE THEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY.

THERE IS A HADITH OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W) TO THIS EFFECT: "THE LAST HOUR WILL NOT COME BEFORE TWO PARTIES WHICH MAKE THE SOME PROFESSION FIGHT TOGETHER AND A GREAT SLAUGHTER RESULTS----." (BUKHARI & MUSLIM).

HADHRAT ALI (RADHIALLAH U ANHU) MADE THE FOLLOW PREDICTION REGARDING THE SHIAHS: "DURING THE LAST OF AGES WILL BE A NATION GIVEN TO CRITICISM (ABUSING AND INSULTING). THEY WILL BE KNOWN AS THE RAAFDHAH (SHIAHS). THEY WILL PRETEND TO BE OUR PARTISANS (SHIAHS) WHILE IN REALITY THEY WILL NOT BE SO. THEIR SALIENT FEATURE WILL BE THEIR HABIT OF ABUSING ABU BAKR AND UMAR (RADHIALLAHU ANHUMAA). WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM, KILL THEM AND PURSUE THEM DILIGENTLY, FOR VERILY, THEY ARE MUSHRIKEEN." (TALBEES0E0IBLESS).

THE ORDER TO KILL AND EXTERMINATE MURTADDEN (APOSTATES) AND THE REVILERS OF THE SAHAABAH IS THE PREROGATIVE RIGHT OF AN ISLAMIC STATE. THE POWER AND RIGHT OF METING OUT SUCH PUNISHMENT ARE NOT GRANTED TO INDIVIDUALS.

THIS INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER IS CONCLUDED WITH THE UNDERMENTIONED HADITH OF RASUL-ALLAH WHICH SHOULD NOT FAIL TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF EVERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THOUGHTFUL MUSLIM:

THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID: "WHEN FITANS (TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS) AND BIDAH (INNOVATIONS IN MATTERS OF DEEN) APPEAR IN THE WORLD AND MY SAHABAHS ARE SUBJECTED TO DEROGATORY REMARKS AND ASPERSIONS, IT IS BINDING ON EVERY ALIM (RELIGIOUS SCHOLAR) IN THAT EVENTUALITY TO REFORM THE ENVIRONMENTS BY MAKING USE OF HIS SCHOLARLY WEAPON (I.E. KNOWLEDGE). WHO SO DOES NOT DO SO HE WILL BE ACCURSED BY ALLAH, ANGELS AND ALL THE MANKIND. HIS REPETENCE, RANSOM, DEEDS AND SUPEREROGATORY ACTS OF DEVOTION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE."

NOTES

1. THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN "AWAKE", QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF YOUNG MEN MUSLIM ASSOCIATION, P.O. BOX 5036, BENONI-1502 TRANSVAAL, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. THE ASSOCIATION HAS PUBLISHED FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION KITAB-US-SALAT WHICH IS A MUST FOR EVERY MUSLIM HOME. IT IS AN INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION AND FULFILS A LONG-FELT NEED IN THE FIELD OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION IN COUNTRIES WHERE MUSLIMS HAPPEN TO BE IN MINORITY.

2. IT SHOULD BE NOTED HERE THAT HAZRAT AISHA'S (R.A) MISSION WAS IN QUEST OF REFORM AND NOT FOR FIGHTING. THIS HAS BEEN PROVED BY THE IN-DEPTH STUDY OF EVENTS BY THE RESEARCHERS. EVEN IF HER LEAVING THE HOME WAS FOR THE SAKE OF FIGHTING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN NO OBJECTION BECAUSE IT WAS BASED ON IJTEHAD AND NOT IN PURSUIT OF PERSONAL LIKES OR DISLIKES. AS SUCH SHARAH MUA'FIQ HAS REPORTED FROM AMADI: "THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE BATTLES OF CAMEL AND SAFFIN WERE ARRIVED AT THROUGH IJTAHAD AND IF A MUJTAHID IS WRONG IN HIS JUDGEMENT THE CANNOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT." LET IT BE MADE CLEAR HERE THAT TO INTERFERE IN THE AFFAIRS OF SAHABAH AND TO PASS JUDGEMENT ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES TENTAMOUNTS TO SHOWINGDISRESPECT TO THEM WHICH IS THE HEIGHT OF ONE'S MISFORTUNES. THE BEST COURSE IS TO LEAVE ASIDE THE CONFLICTS AND DIFFERENCES WHICH TOOK PLACE AMONG THE SAHABAH AND ENTRUST THEIR AFFAIRS TO ALLAH AND REMEMBER ALL OF THEM WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND FEELINGS AND TO HAVE LOVE FOR THEM AS WE LOVE THE PROPHET (SAW) SINCE IT IS MENTIONED IN THE HADITH:
"WHOSO LOVED THEM DID SO OUT OF LOVE FOR ME."
HADHRAT UMAR BIN AL-KHATTAB REPORTED THAT HE HEARD THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH SAYING,
"I (MUHAMMAD) ASKED (ALLAH) ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES AMONG SAHABAH AFTER ME AND RECEIVED ON ANSWER THROUGHT WAHI (REVELATION FROM ALLAH): O MUHAMMAD ! YOUR COMPANIONS ARE LIKE STARS OF THE SKY FOR ME THOUGH SOME ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN THE OTHERS; NEVERTHELESS ALL ARE FULL OF LIGHT. HENCE ANYONE WHO TOOK SOMETHING FROM THEM HE WILL BE LED A RIGHT."

3. RASUL--ALLAH (SAW) SAID: "THE PEOPLE ACCEPTED ISLAM BUT AMR BIN AL-ASS HAD FAITH." (TIRMIDHI). THAT IS TO SAY THAT SOME ACCEPTED ISLAM OUTWARDLY POSSIBLE THROUGH FEAR, BUT AMR WAS A GENUINE BELIEVER.

4. RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) SPOKE IN GLOWING TERMS OF EVEN THE MEMBERS OF ABU MUSA ASH'ARI'S TRIBE, LEAVE ALONE THIS GREAT SAHABI. SAID RASUL-ALLAH (SAW). "THEY (I.E. THE TRIBE MEMBERS OF ABU MUSA ASH'ARI) ARE OF ME & I AM OF THEM" (BUKHARI).

5. FOR A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT, PLEASE SEE APPENDIX -I 'HISTORY OF SHIA RELIGION." (PP. 129-135).

6. DESPITE THIS "EASE AND CONCESSION" THE SO-CALLED MOSQUES OR IMAMBARAS OF THE SHIAS ARE UNATTENDED AND MOSTLY DESERTED AS WE WITNESS IN PAKISTAN AND ELSEWHERE.