THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SHEE'AH & THE MUSLIMS
BY
SAEED ISMAEEL,taken from www.islaam.net. This article slightly edited by MUSLIMWorld


INTRODUCTION
Thanks be to Allaah, His help we seek and His guidance we search for; whomsoever Allaah permits to go astray shall never have guidance, whomsoever Allaah
guides shall never be misled; and I bear witness that there is no God but Allaah alone and He has no partner; and I bear witness that Mohammed is His servant and
messenger. Peace be upon him, his family, his companions and their followers until the day of resurrection.

Allaah commands us in the Holy Qur`aan:

??Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islaam), enjoining Al-ma?ruf (i.e. Islaamic Monotheism and all that Islaam
orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islaam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful??

I pray to Allaah that He will accept this work as a correct response to His commandment.

The purpose of this pamphlet is to present a brief idea about the religious issues that the Shee?ah scholars have disagreed upon with the majority of Muslim scholars.
It is to acquaint especially those who have a vague picture of what the Shee?ah school of thought is in comparison to the majority?s version of Islaam. In short, it is to
answer the ever-rising questions. Is the disagreement vital? And if it is vital, as a Muslim Shee?ah or following the Muslim scholars, what should I do to find the right
Islaam and the right path to Paradise? May Allaah bestow on us His mercy and not deprive us of His guidance. Ameen.

BACKGROUND OF SHEE?AH IDEOLOGIES
When Islaam came as a guidance for mankind, the early generation of devoted Muslims sincerely worked hard to propagate and defend it, allowing Islaam to spread
steadfastly. However, this created a wave of anger and hatred towards Islaam from some of the narrow minded religious figures, especially of Judaism. They plotted to
assassinate the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and to create discord or fighting among Muslims (Fitnah). However, the Iman or faith of the companions was so strong that they were not affected by such conspiracies. After the death of many companions, some conspiracies found its way first, thru Muslims less educated about Islaam then later on to the rest of the Muslim Community.

During the term of the first and second Ca?lee?phah?s (Leader of the whole Muslim nation) there were still many companions. By the end of the third Ca?lee?phah?s reign, a great number of the companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) had passed away, while the number of new generation and new converts had multiplied
tremendously. At this time, the tribalist, racist and other movements found an opportunity to come to the surface. Among these movements was that of Abdullah Bin
Sabaa, as had been mentioned above. He is a Yemen Jew who claimed that Ali had divine authority. This developed further into the claim that he, his son, Al-Hassan,
his son Al-Hussain and the descendants of the latter should be the future leaders of the whole Muslim Ummah forever. This was, of course, contrary to the current
practice since after the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) Abu Bakr had been elected as the Caliph (Leader) of the whole Muslim Ummah (Nation), followed by Omar. There was as yet, until today, no claim that Ali should be the first Ca?lee?phah?.

This allegation however, finally found a place of acceptance in the capital of the previously Iranian Empire, Al-Madayen, more easily than in the other regions of the
Islaamic Empire at that time, especially since Al-Hussain, second son of Ali, was then married to the daughter of the last Iranian Emperor.

This is why the Shee?ah concept of the hereditary system of leadership is confined to the descendants of Al-Husain, beginning with fourth Shiite?s Imam (leader). The
claim that Ali should be the first Caliph started mainly as a political ploy to create discord among Muslims by agitating the tribal and racial differences and hostilities.

The end result of the political claim, however, was a religious difference and deviation from the Islaam maintained by the great majority of Muslim scholars.

Shee?ah derive their name from Shee?ee which means in Arabic supporter, here to mean the supporters of Ali, his sons, Hassan and Hussain, and descendants of
Hussain. Shee?ah are divided into groups: the Zaidis, who have deviated the least; the Ja?fari Eth?nai Ashri, the Ismailis, and the Alawi Nusairi. Druzes derive their roots from Ismailism and Fatimid Shee?ah.

The following pages are devoted to the discussion of the
Ja?fari Eth?nai Ashri (Ja?fari twelve Imams), which represents the Shee?ah majority.

 

HOLY Qur`aan
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholar says: ?that the number of verses in the Holy Qur`aan is 1700?. Al-Kafi by Al-Kolayni, which is believed by Shee?ah scholars as the most
trustworthy and celebrated work of HADEETH known in the Shee?ah world, says: ?Any human being who claims to have collected the Qur`aan in its complete form is a
liar. Only Ali and the Imams collected it all and preserved it?.

The Shee?ah Scholars also allow their followers to read the existing Holy Qur`aan till they are taught their version. This permission is based on a Shee?ah tradition which
says: I said to Imam Ali Musa (the 8th Imam), we hear from you Qur`aanic verses which we have not learned. Are we committing sins by not reciting them? The Imam
said ?No, read the way you have learned. Someone will come to teach you? (referring to the 12th Imam who will reappear and bring with him the complete version
according to the Sheeah belief).

The Muslim scholars assure us that Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) compiled the Holy Qur`aan in its complete, current existing form orally and during the
C?laph?ah (leadership) of Abu Bakr, a compilation which was written down in a single volume.

During the C?laph?ah of Othman, the language of the Holy Qur`aan was standardized and universalized. The approved variations in reciting a few words of the Holy
Qur`aan do not touch its basic meaning.

Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:

?Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (Qur`aan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)? ;
?It is for Us to collect and to give you (O Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him)) the ability to recite it? ;
?Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise Worthy of all praise (Allaah)?

Allaah had promised to preserve it as a guidance for Muslims everywhere and forever. This is in contrast to the previous divine books wherein although their original
forms are preserved with Allaah, the ones in the hands of the followers of these messages are distorted.

The Muslim scholars who consider the belief that the Holy Qur`aan is adulterated is a plain rejection of the Islaamic faith.

Brothers and sisters, you can find out for yourself that the number of verses in the Holy Qur`aan is 6236 excluding the ?Bismillah? at the beginning of the Suras (Chapter),
but the Shee?ah Scholars claim that this Holy Qur`aan is not complete. Should we believe the Ja?fari Shee?ah source or the Almighty Allaah and the Muslim Scholars?
Perhaps some Shee?ah deny their belief that the existing Holy Qur`aan is not complete. But this denial could be shielding (Tuq?yah or to lie to protect the Shee?ah
belief).


SU?N?AH OR HADEETH
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars consider SU?N?AH as what the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Imams said. AL-Kafi by Kolayni, in Tabatabai?s words is ?the most
trustworthy and celebrated work of HADEETH in the Shee?ah world?. In this source, the names of the transmitters of the HADEETH are not frequently mentioned. Instead of the ?prophet said?, you find ? the Imam said?. Many of these HADEETHs contradict the Holy Qur`aan. The prominent criterion in validating HADEETH is actually whether it supports, or at least, does not negate the Shee?ah school of thought. The most trustworthy of the prophet?s (Peace Be Upon Him) traditions are the ones received through the household of the prophet, i.e. the Shee?ah Imams, even though an Imam could pass away while his child is only nine,eight or fyears old. For example, a HADEETH reported by Ali and compiled by Sahih Al-Bukhari is rejected if it contradicts thShee?ah concept of Temporary Marriage (Nikah Mut?ah), but if the HADEETH were supportive of the Shee?ah school of thought, it would be accepted no matter who said, transmitted, or compiled it.

The Muslim scholars define SU?N?AH or HADEETH as the sayings of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), his deeds, tacit approvals or the description of his physical
appearance. Basically, there are two ways of HADEETH authentication. The first is the ?Isnad?, which means the reliability of the transmitters. Therefore, HADEETH with
broken linkages between transmitters are rejected because there is no way to find out how reliable the transmitters are. Second, there is ?Matn?, which means content
of the HADEETH; that is, whether or not it contradicts the teachings of the Holy Qur`aan, there is another version of the same HADEETH with a different chain of
transmitters, or whether there is a stronger Isnad, etc. Based on these methodologies and the strictness of the compiler in choosing his HADEETH, the Muslim
scholars affirmed that the compilations of Al-Bukhari and the Muslims are the most trustworthy source of the SU?N?AH of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) While the Holy Qur`aan was compiled in written form right after the death of the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), the serious compilation of the HADEETH took place after almost 100 years.

There were many reasons for this delay, the major one being that a great proportion of HADEETH dealt with detailed teachings which should be practiced by a true
Muslim in his daily life. The companions were actually living compilations of HADEETH because they were representing the prophetic manners themselves. Therefore,
there seemed to be no urgent need for serious efforts towards a written compilation. Furthermore, some great Companions were of the opinion that the teaching of
Islaam should be focused first in the Holy Qur`aan so that it would be well-established. This was to avoid what had happened to previous Holy Books in which divine
words were mixed up with prophetic sayings.

So brothers and sisters, which definition of HADEETH is more accurate, given the fact that Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) is the seal of the Prophets? As God says in the Holy Qur`aan:

?Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the prophets...?


Only the Prophets and the messengers of Allaah can receive revelation which is binding unto whom the messenger is sent. When the Shee?ah scholars equate the
sayings of the Imams to the sayings of the Prophet, they are claiming that the Imam also received revelation. If these scholars claim that the Imams were only inspired,
then the inspiration is a different story. It is not binding to be followed or to be enforced on others nor should it be shared by other human beings.

IJMA? (CONSENSUS OR SEMI-CONSENSUS)
Shee?ah scholars have a double standard position concerning Ijma?. On the one hand, the Shee?ah scholars employ consensus to support their arguments, e.g.
Tabatabai writes ?... Both Sunni and Shee?ee clearly asserted...? and ?which were acclaimed by all...? And on the other, Ijma? is rejected by Shee?ah scholars who:

Muslim scholars consider Ijma? as the third major source of Islaamic teachings. When nothing is directly mentioned in the Holy Qur`aan or the SU?N?AH about the case,
then the Ijma? is considered as a valid source. The most authentic text is the one reported by a large group of transmitters to another large group. This is called
?Tawatur?. The most valid interpretation of the SU?N?AH/HADEETHS is that which gains the approval of Ijma?.

For Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:
?And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur`aan), and be not divided among yourselves?.


Condemning deviation, Allaah, addressing the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and referring to those who deviated from the right path, says:

?Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)) have no concern
in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allaah, Who then will tell them what they used to do?


The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ?...stick to the Jama?ah (Majority) and avoid division. Satan is with the one person alone but is more likely to avoid the two together, whosoever wants abundance in Paradise should stick to the Jama?ah...?. Jama?ah and consensus here is referring to the majority of Muslim scholars who are knowledgeable about the commandments of Allaah. In another HADEETH, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ?My Ummah will not have consensus on what is wrong?. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) also said: ?...My Ummah will be divided into seventy three groups. Only one of them shall be saved and the rest shall be in hellfire?. When he was asked which group is to be saved, he responded: ?The followers of my path and my Companions?. In another version of the same HADEETH he responded: ?They are the Jama?ah?.

Brothers and sisters, don?t you think that consistency is one of the crucial elements of any valid measurement and a tool of an objective argument? Don?t you think it is
suspicious if a person employs an argument when it supports his biases and rejects the same once it refutes them? Think about it. Let us assume that you as Muslims
want to know which path leads to paradise. A group of people you don?t know anything about claimed that they know which path leads to it. However, one among this
group gave you a direction which contradicts the directions of the rest of the group, numbering no less than eleven people. Both descriptions seemed to be equally
reasonable, which direction should you now follow? What if you came to know that if you do not know this person?s direction or if you disagree with him he will hate
you, but the others won?t? For Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:

? there is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (anything
worshipped other than the Real God ?Allaah?) and believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break
and Allaah is all-Hearer, all Knower?


Brothers and Sisters, just think about it as a basic rule. There are three categories of issues upon which scholars differ and they are as follows:


The crucial differences between the Muslim and the Shee?ah scholars are contained in the last category.

Brothers and sisters, remember that there is a great deal of difference between the ?majority of Muslims? which is not a sufficient evidence and the ?majority of Muslims
scholars? which is what is meant here by Ijma?.

Our Dears let us remember that Allaah had warned us against deviating from His straight path. He says in the Holy Qur`aan:

?And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path.
This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious )?.

 

ARTICLES OF FAITH AND PILLARS OF Islaam
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars say that believing in a hereditary system of leadership of the whole MuslimUmmah (I?ma?mah) is as fundamental as bin oneGod. To them,
I?ma?mah is an article of faith and a pillar of Islaam. In addition, among the articles referred to the constitution and the other Shee?ah sources, there is no mention of
believing in the angels or divine destiny(Al-Qader).

Muslim scholars affirm that there is no such thing as I?ma?mah, an alleged hereditary system of leadership of the whole Muslim Ummah in Islaam. There are evidences in the Holy Qur`aan and the reliable SU?N?AH that even refute and reject this concept. In the Holy Qur`aan, Allaah says:

?...and who (conduct) their (Muslim) affairs by mutual consultation...?


And the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was commanded: ?"...and consult them in the affairs...?."


The Muslim scholars believe that Islaam is built on five pillars: Testifying that there is no God but Allaah and Mohammed is His messenger, performing prayers, paying
charity, fasting in the month of Ramadan and making the pilgrimage to the house of Allaah. Furthermore, they believe that the fundamental articles of Iman are: To
believe in Allaah, His Angles, His Books, His Messengers, the last Day and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof. If you read the whole
Holy Qur`aan you will not find any support for the ?I?ma?mah concept?, the alleged hereditary system of leadership of the whole Muslim Ummah.

Brothers and sisters, should we believe the majority of Muslim scholars who are supported clearly by the Holy Qur`aan verses and reliable HADEETHs, or the few
Shee?ah scholars whose opinions are not sanctioned by the Holy Qur`aan or the reliable HADEETHs? Make sure that our sole intention is to please Allaah only and to
find truth for our salvation in this world and in the hereafter. Let us, remember that Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:

?O you who believe! Believe in Allaah, and His Messenger (Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him)), and the Book (the Qur`aan) which
He has sent down to His Messenger, and the Scripture which He sent down to those before (him), and whosoever disbelieves in Allaah,
His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed he has strayed far away?.

 

SHEE?AH CONCEPT OF I?MA?MAH
The Shee?ah scholars believe that the Immate concept is an article of faith equal to believing in one God. I?ma?mah concept means that the spiritual, religious,
educational and political leadership of the whole Muslim Ummah is a matter of inheritance confined to only twelve Imams. These are the husband of the youngest
daughter of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), Fatima, her two sons and some of the descendants of her second sons, Husain, who was married to the Persian
emperor?s daughter.

This religious and political leadership could be inherited by a nine, eight or five year-old boy. For example, the constitution of the Republic of Iran states that: ?... the
official religion of Iran is the Ja?fari Eth?nai Ashri and this article is unchangeable forever?.

First of all, this belief is bound with the belief that these Imams are infallible and share with Allaah the power of knowing the unseen including the knowledge as to
when the Imams would die. They believe that obedience to these Imams should be unquestionable - ?even the worship of God becomes unnecessary if this is the
Imam?s order?. In Khomeini?s words, it says: ? We cannot imagine that the Imams can make mistake?. Also the I?ma?mah is interwoven with the belief that ?the spiritual
status of the Imam is universal viceregency. It is a viceregency pertaining to the whole creation, by virtue of which all atoms in the universe humble themselves before
the holder of this authority. It is one of the essential beliefs of our Shee?ah school that no one can attain the spiritual status of the Imams, not even the angels of the
highest rank or messengers of Allaah?. On the other hand, the concept is inherent in the Shee?ah belief that all Muslim Ca?lee?phahs (leaders of the whole Muslim
nation), rulers and judges are taghoots (evil ones) if they are not Shee?ah or of the twelve Imams. Therefore the constitution of Iran made sure that only an Ithna Ashari
Ja?afari Shee?ah can be president. and the ?national legislative council shall not enact laws that contradict the principles and jurisprudence of the official sect of the
state?. The twelfth Shee?ah Imam is believed to have been born in 868 A. D. and is still alive (now even after eleven centuries) but disappeared when he was 5 years
old. He will reappear and the current Republic of Iran will be dissolved for him to take the leadership.

The Muslim scholars regard monarchy questionable where only the political power is inherited. Therefore, they reject completely any form of monarchy in which even
the religious and the spiritual leadership is inherited, unless there is clear evidence in the Holy Qur`aan or the reliable SU?N?AH of the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) that
supports this claim. Not only is there no such evidence, but also the concept of I?ma?mah contradicts the principle of the consultation emphasized by the Holy Qur`aan.
Allaah, commanding the Prophet, says:

?.......and consult them in affairs.........?,

And praising the believers says:

? ....... and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation.......?.


The Muslim scholars also affirm that complete infallibility is an attribute of Allaah alone and no creature shares it with Him. Even the infallibility of the prophets is limited
to conveying their messages truly and in avoiding cardinal sins or disobedience to Allaah. For example, Allaah addressing the Prophet says: ?The Prophet (Pease Be Upon Him) frowned and turned away because a blind man came to him (interrupting)?. The Holy Qur`aan assures us that even the best creature on earth does not share with Allaah the attributes of infallibility. Concerning the knowledge of the unseen, Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:

?I (Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him)) have no power over any good or harm to my self except as God (Allaah) wills,
if I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have multiplied all good, and no evil should have touched me...?


Muslim scholars consider those who believe that some human beings are better than the messengers of Allaah as kaferon (unbelievers), let alone those who claim
that some creatures share with Allaah His unique attributes or that obedience to these creatures is more important than to the Creator. The concept of the still alive 12th
Shee?ah Imam is a myth which should not be believed, let alone build a whole system of an Islaamic government on it. Al-tabari assured us that the 11th Imam had no
offspring?s at all.

There are very few HADEETHs compiled by Termithy and Abu Dawood mentioning the appearance of Al-Mahdi among the signs of the Day of Resurrection. These
HADEETHs say that he will have a name similar to the Prophet?s (Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him)) and his father?s name will be similar to the Prophet?s father
(Abdullah), not Hassan the 11th Imam?s name. He will be from the descendants of the first grandson of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) but not from the second
grandson?s progeny. Furthermore, there is no evidence that such a person will live twelve centuries.

Brothers and Sisters, the Shee?ah scholars consider the I?ma?mah concept as an article of faith equal to believing in Allaah. That is, if you don?t believe this, then by
their definition you could be a Kafer (unbeliever), God forbid. On the other hand, if you believe such with all its implications and dimensions you could be a Kafer by
the definition of the scholars whose loyalty is only to Allaah and the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), not for a special dynasty or race. Make sure that you choose the right
path to paradise.

 

FAMILY OF THE PROPHET (Peace Be Upon Him)
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars confine ?Family of the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)? to the youngest daughter of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), Fatima ,
his cousin Ali - husband of Fatima, the first grandson and the second grandson (who married the last Iranian emperor?s daughter, then Shahrbanoo) and the eight
descendants of the second grandson from his Persian wife. Khomeini said: ?It isone of the essential beliefs of Shee?ah school that no one can attain the spiritual status
of Imam (Ali and his descendants), not ethe close angels or the prophets who are also messengers of God?. Shee?ah scholars believe that the leadership ofthe whole
Muslim Ummah is confined only to the twelve Imams. Therefore they neglect the accomplishments and the virtues of or cast cardinal accusations against the rest of the
prophet?s (Peace Be Upon Him) family and Companions, unless they are proven to the Shee?ah scholars to have demonstrated strong support to Ali. (This can be further
corroborated by reading any of the Shee?ah sources in Islaamic history, for example Tabatabai, Ali Shariati, Ibn Abi al-hadid, etc.).

The Muslim scholars consider ?Ahl-al Bait? the family of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) as all his relatives who cannot receive charity. This includes the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), Ali, Aqil, Abbas and their posterity, the wives of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) are members of his family, Allaah Says in the Holy Qur`aan:

?And stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform regular prayers (As-Salat), and give
charity (Zakat) , and obey Allaah and his Messenger. Allaah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs ( evil deeds and sin, ect.) from you, O members of the
family of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him),, and to purify you with a thorough purification.?

Not only that, but all the Prophet?s wives are the mothers of the believers, Allaah Says in the Holy Qur`aan:

? The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves, and his wives are their (believers?) mothers (as regards respect and marriage).......?.


The majority of the Muslim scholars consider those who believe that some human beings are better than the Prophets as Kafir (unbeliever). Muslim scholars hold
respect for the whole family of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in general.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), in a HADEETH reported by Muslim while commanding Muslims to stick to the Holy Qur`aan as a source of guidance, also asked them
to be kind to his family. Muslim scholars also preserved a high status for all the Companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), the chosen soldiers of Islaam.

Brothers and Sisters, being Muslims, could we really neglect the other daughters of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), his relatives and their descendants who were
excellent Muslims? Could we confine the family of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) to just a few ones as selected by Shee?ah Scholars? Could we really love only a few and curse the other tens of thousands of the early generation of Islaam? What about Othman, who was married to the two daughters of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and had a son from one of them? What about the descendants of Hassan , the eldest grandson of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)? Don?t you think Ali and his pious descendants would be among the first to condemn these concepts of the Shee?ah scholars?

 

COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars claim that the first and the second guided Ca?lee?phahs, Abu Bakr and Omar plotted against Islaam and tried to eliminate the HADEETH so
that they could interpret the Holy Qur`aan in such a way as to serve their purposes. The Shee?ah scholars also claim that the three first guided Ca?lee?phahs ?Broke their
covenant with the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and changed his SU?N?AH?. They divide the thousands of the Prophet?s companions into three categories;


One of the official newspapers then, after describing the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) as having singled out his son-in-law unjustly with special parts of the Islaamic
Message, assures that ?most of the Prophet?s (Peace Be Upon Him) generation did not have a clear picture even of the religious issues that the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) had practiced hundreds of times before their eyes and within reach of their hearing. Specifically, a Shee?ah scholar mentions ?... Abdul Rahman Ibn Ouf, a
worshipper of money; the aristocrat, Othman; the careless Khalid Ibn Walid; and Saied Ibn Vaqas, as a man without piety?.

The Muslim scholars say that the great companions are trustworthy and are reliable sources - all of them deserve high respect. Allaah has praised the great
Companions in the Holy Qur`aan saying:

?You are the best of peoples?. ?The Vanguard (of Islaam), the first who forsook their homes (Al-Muhajirin) and of those who gave them aid
(Al-Ansar) and also who follow them in all good deeds. Allaah is pleased with them as they are with Him. For them He prepared gardens under
which rivers flow to dwell therein forever?.; ?Mohammed is the Apostle of God and those who are with each other. You see them bow and prostrate
themselves (in prayer) seeking grace from God and (His) good pleasure. On their faces are the marks being the traces of their prostration...?

 

In a reliable HADEETH the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ?The best of my followers are those living in my century?.

The Muslim scholars have no doubt that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) conveyed his message without any discrimination or bias for his son-in-law or any one else of
the companions. The great Companions were in general, more knowledgeable about the Islaamic teachings. Among the non-relatives of the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), there were many who were more knowledgeable than Ali or the other relatives of the Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him), in spite of the HADEETH forged by Shee?ah
scholars.

Among those Companions who have been slandered by the Shee?ah scholars are those who have been told that they were the people of paradise. Among them also
are those to whom the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ?May my mother and father be sacrificed for you? or that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is from them and they
are from him.

Among those companions there are hundreds about whom the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ?None loves them but a believer and non hates them but a hypocrite?. Certainly, the blind, biased and exaggerated love are excluded. For these kinds of ?Love? should rather be identified as hatred. If there were disagreements among a few Companions based on a difference of legal opinions (Ijtehad), we should not indulge in judging their personal deeds, for Allaah condemns such acts; i.e. latter ones judging the deeds of the earlier ones.

In the Holy Qur`aan it says:

?That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned,
and you of what you earned, And you will not be asked of what they used to do??


Brothers and sisters, do you believe Allaah who plainly states that He is pleased with the Companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) or the Shee?ah scholars who honor just a few Companions and curse and accuse thousands of others. Be sure to find the right way to paradise and not function unintentionally as an agent of the enemies of Islaam who are trying to destroy the Holy Qur`aan and the HADEETH. Remember that Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal said: ?If you see a person accusing the
companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), you have the right to doubt his Islaam?.

Rahwaih and Imam Malik gave the verdict that whosoever accuses the companions should be punished. Ibn Taymiyah and Razi said: ?Whoever questions the good
faith of the companions is ?Zindeeq? and unbeliever?.

Ibn Hajar Al-Haithami and Imam Shaifee are of the opinion, that whoever hates the companions is an unbeliever. Al-gadi abu Ya?ala concluded that the majority of
Muslim scholars have made a consensus that whoever disgraces and accuses a Companion believing that the Companion deserves disgracing becomes a Kafer
(unbeliever) but if he does not believe that the companion deserves it then he committed a serious sin (a Faseq).

 

TUQ?YAH (SHIELDING)
The Ja?afari scholars say that: ?TUQ?YAH compriseninetenths of the religion of Allaah and whoever does not use TUQ?YAH has no religion. TUQ?YAH is to be used in
everything except in declaring the prohibition of wine and the rubbing of socks in wudu?. TUQ?YAH means to pretend by doing or saying exactly the opposite of what you believe or feel, e.g. to pretend to be nice while cursing theperson in the heart without a present danger.

The specific purpose of TUQ?YAH is the ?preservation of Islaam and the Shee?ah school of thought; if the people had not resorted to it, our school would have been
destroyed?, i.e., to the Shee?ah scholars, TUQ?YAH could be used with non-Shee?ah, including Muslims, to preserve the Shee?ah Faith. The prominent Shee?ah scholar Tabatabai says that Shee?ah TUQ?YAH is based on the verses from the Holy Qur`aan that say:

?Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be
helped by Allaah in any way, except you indeed fear a danger from them...?.; ?Whoever disbelieved in Allaah after his belief, except him who is
forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith...?


The Holy Qur`aan also assures us that pretending to believe differently from what is in our hearts is the distinguished characteristic of hypocrites and it condemns that.
Allaah says in the Holy Qur`aan:

?And when they meet those who believe they say ?We believe?. But when they are alone with their
Shaytan (devil - polytheist, hypocrites, etc.), they say: ?Truly we are with you... ?

Allaah also says:

?Lo! you are the ones who love them but they love you not, and you believe in all the Scriptures [i.e. you believe in the Taurat(Torah) and the
Injeel(Gospel), while they disbelieve in your Book, the Qur`aan]. And when they meet you, they say, ?We believe?. But when they are alone, they bite
the tips of their fingers at you in rage. Say: ?Perish in your rage. Certainly, Allaah knows what is in the breast (all the secrets).?

 

Therefore, Allaah has prepared for the hypocrites severe punishment. ?They shall be in the lowest depths of the fire, no helpers will you find for them?. So
Muslim scholars consider that pretending the opposite of what you hide is lying, which is a form of hypocrisy, for the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ?The signs of a hypocrite are three: whenever he speaks he tells a lie, when ever he promises he always breaks it and he abuses the trust given to him...? The basic rule therefore, is that pretending one thing and hiding another is hypocrisy and is condemned by the Islaamic teachings. The case mentioned in chapter 3 verse 28 of the Qur`aan above is applicable in the case of non-believers ONLY under special cases, i.e., a Muslim cannot apply it against a Muslim. Chapter 16 verse 106 of the Holy Qur`aan is applicable only when a Muslim faces a situation similar to the situation of the great Companion Ammar when he had to choose between dying under torture like his parents pretending to be unbeliever by tongue. These cases are not the basic rule but rather exceptions, let alone the basis for nine-tenths of the Islaamic religion. Brothers and sisters, give it a thought - what would happen if Muslims were to believe that nine-tenths of the whole religion lies in TUQ?YAH? Which is means that pretending what is different from our true belief and feelings is nine times as important as all the Islaamic teachings? Could you ever trust a Muslim if this were the cas e? Can we really take our guidance and religious knowledge from scholars who believe that deception is nine-tenths of his religion? Is it right to accept his non-religious views as representing the truth? If a person considers lying about Allaah, His Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Muslims as essential part of his beliefs in order to serve his biased goals, can we trust him? Therefore, if you really want success in the hereafter or in the eternal life, be cautious of the many arguments of Shee?ah scholars which are based on distorted or forged quotations and references.

Our Dears let us remember that chapter 3 verse 28 of the Holy Qur`aan is not only an exception, but rather a restricted exception. Not only is it forbidden to be used
against Muslims but it also prohibits us to lie upon others. It means that if you oppose certain behaviors and you are in a situation where admission would endanger
Islaam or the Muslim community, you may choose to remain silent but you must avoid lying.

 

MUT?AH - TEMPORARY MARRIAGE
The Ja?fari Shee?ah scholars claim that Mut?ah or temporary marriage is NOT forbidden because it was practiced during the Prophet?s time. Only Omar forbade it.

Now, let us discover what the Muslim scholars say:

The purpose of Mut?ah is to fulfill a physical need only; there is no divorce and the two partners do not inherit each other. The
Muslim scholars say that: The Holy Qur`aan had established the legal forms of relationship between male and female and
confined it into two types: the marriage in which the main reason is multiplication and the other being mutual relationship and
possession. The Holy Qur`aan says:

?And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). Except from their wives or (the captives and
the slaves) that their right hands posses, - for then, they are free from blames?.

These two legal forms Islaamic marriage were also confirmed in the Holy Qur`aan:

?Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom you right hands possess. Thus has Allaah ordained for you. All
others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your
property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr is
prescribed, you agree mutually (to give more), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allaah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise?. ?And whoever of you have not the
means wherewith to wed free, believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those (captives and slaves) whom your right possess, and
Allaah has full knowledge about your Faith, you are on from another. Wed them with permission of their own folk (guardians, Auliya or masters) and
give their Mahr according to what is reasonable; they (the above said captive and slave-girls) should be chaste, not adulterous, nor taking boy friends.
And after they have been taken in wed folk, if they commit illegal sexual intercourse, their punishment is half that for free (unmarried) women. This is for
him among you who is afraid of being harmed in his religion or in his body; but it is better for you that you practice self-restraint, and Allaah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful?

In which the laws of marriage were detailed. The Muslims scholars confirmed that the meaning of ?Istam?tum? is referring to the enjoyment as part of the duties of
the legal forms of marriage between a man and his wife. This part of the verse is spelling out the right of a wife to a Mahr (marriage gift). This is clearly
demonstrated by a HADEETH using the same word ?Istamta?ta? in its single form.

Mut?ah was permitted under severe circumstances during ?jihad? time, but it was always prohibited immediately after the need for it vanished. When it was
permitted for the last time, its prohibitions after that was final. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said : ?I have given you permission to contract ?temporary
marriage? with women, but Allaah has forbidden it ?till the day of resurrection?. So the permissions were actually only occasional exceptions from the origirule
set in the Qur`aan and were made by the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) who had the authority; and the exceptions were not left open but were closed by the above
HADEETH forever.

Later on, Ca?lee?phah Omar came to kAmru bin Huraith was practicing Mut?ah and so he announced: ?Verily Allaah made permissible for his messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) whatever he likes and as he liked it. And thereof the Holy Qur`aan had been completed. So complete Hajj and Umra for Allaah had commanded
you and confirm by proper conditions the marriage of those women (with whom you have performed Mut?ah). And any person who would come to me with a
marriage of fixed duration (Mut?ah), I would stone him to death (which is the penalty for committing fornication by a previously married person).?

Brothers and sisters, is there any difference between a woman lending her body for a few minutes as in prostitution or for a few days or months as in Mut?ah,
since both are temporary? Don?t you think that the permission of Mut?ah today would humiliate our sisters, open the doors for playmates and finally destroy the
concept of family in Islaam? Remember the Shee?ah scholars of high status rarely allow their female relatives to practice Mut?ah in order to avoid humiliation. In
fact the Mut?ah permitted occasionally before its final prohibitions did not require the female to be a Muslim or even one from the people of the book which
makes it completely distinguished from marriage. How could a Muslim legalize such a type of illegal relationship for Muslims or practice it himself? What is the
difference between fornication today and Mut?ah in terms of their purposes? Aren?t both to satisfy the sexual desires alone?.

 

GHADEER KHU?M
Tabatabai said: ?For Shee?ah, the central evidence of Ali?s legitimacy as successor to the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is the evidence of Ghadeer Khu?m when
the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) chose Ali to the ?general guardianship?. Referring to a booklet devoted to the details of Ghadeer Khu?m, we find the following:


Now, let us discover what the Muslim scholars say:

 

Nevertheless, Tabatabai, arguing the necessity of the hereditary system of C?laph?ah, said: ?the enemies of Islaam who did everything possible to destroy it
thought that since the protector of Islaam was the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), after his death, Islaam would be left without a guide and leader and would thus
definitely perish. But in Ghadeer Khu?m, their wishewere brought to naught and the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) presented Ali as a guide and leader of Islaam to
the people. After Ali, this burdensome and necessary duty of guide and leader was left upon the shoulder of his family?. Tabatabai, the recent prominent
Shee?ah scholar contradicts himselfinthe same book. In the first pages, he describes the Imam including Ali as helpless and being oppressed by the muslim
Ca?lee?phahs and in this argument says that Allaah has chthem to protect Islaam as well as guide and lead the Muslim Ummah. If they could not protect
themselves, how could they ever protect Islaam and lead the Muslim Ummah? Or is this an indirect accusation that Allaah did not make the right choice (may
Allaah forgive me(Peace Be Upon Him). Indeed, the Shee?ah scholars, to argue their bias, did not mind accusing the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and the great soldier of Islaam as being unfair and of being disloyal. Even their Imams were accused of being cowards to the degree that they considered pretense and lying (TUQ?YAH) as nine-tenths of the religion.

A Shee?ah scholar claimed that Ali said : ?The Ca?lee?phahs before me did things which consciously went against the dictates of the holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) of Allaah. They broke their covenant with him and changed his SU?N?AH?. Now if I force the people to give up those things and restore the affairs as they
had been in the days of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), my army will be scattered away from me, leaving me alone and helpless.... In short, if I try to make the
people follow the commands of Allaah and His Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), they will leave me and wander away?. Ali, a great warrior of Islaam and an
excellent Muslim is described here as if he believed that worldly power was better than to teach true Islaam. He is afraid of becoming alone! Blind bias can
cause more than that. Instead of praising the beloved, the extreme bias leads to casting cardinal accusations unwittingly. As Ibn Taymiyah indeed puts it: ?The
worst calamity to hit the Shee?ah Imams was to have such scholars as their supporters?.

 

CONCLUSION
Finally and in brief, because of the lack of reasonable evidences in the Holy Qur`aan and the SUNNAH of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) that support the claims
of the Shee?ah scholars, they usually resort to the following techniques to rationalize their biased versions of Islaam as follows:

Brothers and sisters, the cornerstone of the Shee?ah faith claims that Allaah assigned Ali as the successor of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). If we check this
claim against the historical facts which confirms that Ali did not sacrifice himself, as it was expected of a person of his quality to carry out the commandment of
Allaah, the result will definitely be one of these three possibilities:

Our dear brothers, sisters and friends, we have just presented to you the facts to prove that
the Shee?ah are different from Muslims.