Who are Shias? Definition of Shia: In the Arabic dictionaries, the word Shia equates to “follower”. (Al-Qamoos Al-Muheet, Volume 3, Page 61-62; Taj Al-Uroos, Volume 5, Page 405; Lisaan Al-Arab, Volume 7, Page 258; Al-Nihayah, Ibne Aseer, Volume 2, Page 246)

Quran says: َ‫وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِ َلَِبْرَاهِيم‬ “And indeed, among his followers (Shias) was Abraham (PBUH)” Quran (37:83)

In its usual context among the Muslims, the word 'Shia' refers to the followers of Imam Ali (PBUH). The best definition for 'Shia' in this regard is: “Someone who believes that Ali (PBUH) was appointed by God as a successor of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and he was the most deserving person for this position.” In this definition, special attention must be paid to the phrase “appointed by God”, the root of the difference of opinion among the Shias and other sects of Islam because the other sects of Islam consider the succession of Holy Prophet (PBUH) as an electoral process but the Shias believe it is a process of selection by God and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself. Ibne Aseer, a famous Sunnis linguist has a book titled, “Al-Nihayah fi Ghareeb Al-Hadith” in which he has a collection of the traditions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) analyzed linguistically. He says: ‫ فإذا‬،‫ حتى صار لهم اسما خاصا‬،‫و قد غلب هذا االسم على كل من يزعم أنه يتولى عليا رضي هللا عنه و أهل بيته‬ ‫قيل فالن من الشيعة عرف أنه منهم‬

“The word Shia is used to refer to those people who believe that Ali (PBUH) is a Wali (divinely appointed leader) and an Imam and who believe that Ali (PBUH) and the Ahl Al-Bayt (PBUT) are appointed as Wali by God. Such that the word 'Shia' has become a special title for the people of this creed.” (Al-Nihayah fi Ghareeb Al-Hadith, Volume 2, Page 519; Lisaan Al-Arab, Ibne Manzoor, Volume 8, Page 189; Qamoos Al-Muheet, Feiroz Abadri, Volume 3, Pgae 47; Taaj Al-Uroos, Zubeidi, Volume , Page 405)

Ash'ari, the founder of the Ash'aris school of thought among Sunnis has explicitly mentioned that the the word 'Shia' has long been in use among the Muslims and it refers to in his words: )‫ و يقدمونه على سائر أصحاب رسول هللا (صلى هللا عليه و آله و سلم‬،‫و إنما قيل لهم (شيعة) ألنهم شايعوا عليا‬

“These are the followers of Ali (PBUH) who consider Ali (PBUH) to be superior in rank to all the other companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).” (Maqalaat Al-Islamiyeen, Volume 1, Page 65)

Ibne Khaldoon has written similar to this in his history books: ‫إعلم أن الشيعة لغة هم الصحب و االتباع و يطلق في عرف الفقهاء و المتكلمين من الخلف و السلف على اتباع‬ ‫علي و بنيه رضي هللا عنهم‬

“The word Shia has been referred by the jurists and scholars of the past and present to the followers of Ali (PBUH) and his sons.” (Tareekh Ibne Khaldoon, Volume 1, Page 196)

Historical background of Shias: Some researchers have said that Shias were formed after the death of Holy Prophet (PBUH). These researchers may be categorized as follows: 1. Those who say that Shias were formed following the event of Saqifa, the same day when some of the companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) explicitly said: 'Ali (PBUH) is most worthy of Imamat and Caliphate.' 2. Those who say that Shias were formed around the last years of caliphate of Hazrat Othman where Abdullah Ibne Sabaa created discord among the Muslims. 3. Some say that Shias were formed on the day of killing of Hazrat Othman. Against these dispersed opinions, careful and unbiased researchers believe that Shiism has got roots in the time of Holy Prophet (PBUH) during which Holy Prophet (PBUH) on several occasions himself used the word 'Shia' for the followers of Imam Ali (PBUH). The truth has also been that the foundation of Shiism was laid by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and after the death of Holy Prophet (PBUH), the group of Shia Muslims became obvious for these were those who believed Imam Ali (PBUH) to be true successor of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and were hence known as 'Shias of Ali (PBUH).' In below we present several narrations which prove our viewpoint. ‫ لما نزلت هذه اآلية قال الرسول لعلي يا علي‬. ) ‫قال تعالى ( إن الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات أولئك هم خير البرية‬ . ‫( ع ) هم أنت و شيعتك‬

“Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures.” - Quran (98:7)

When this verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: 'O Ali! This is about you and your Shias.' (Al-Sawaeq Al-Muhariqah li Ibne Hajr, Page 96; Shwahid Al-Tanzeil li Al-Hakim Al-Haskani, Volume 2, Page 356; Kifayat Al-Talib li Al-Kunji Al-Shafeiee, Page 244-246; Al-Manaqib li Al-Khawarizmi, Page 62 and 187; Al-Fusool Al-Muhimah li Ibne Al-Sabagh Al-Maliki, Page 107; Yanabei Al-Muwadat, Qandoozi Al-Hanafi, Page 62; Noor Al-Absaar, Page 71 and 102; Al-Dar Al-Manthor, Syooti, Volume 6, Page 379; Tafseer Al-Tibri, Volume 3, Page 146; Tazkirah Al-Khawas li Ibne Al-Jozi, Page 18; Fat'h Al-Qadeer li Al-Shokani, Volume 5, Page 477; Fraaid Al-Simtein, Volume 1, Page 156) ‫ أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب قال قال رسول هللا ( صلى هللا عليه وسلم ) يا علي إذا كان يوم القيامة‬... ‫يخرج قوم من قبورهم لباسهم النور على نجائب من نور أزمتها يواقيت حمر تزفهم المالئكة إلى المحشر فقال علي‬ ‫تبارك هللا ما أكرم هؤالء على هللا قال رسول هللا ( صلى هللا عليه وسلم ) يا علي هم أهل واليتك وشيعتك ومحبوك‬ . ‫يحبونك بحبي ويحبوني بحب هللا هم الفائزون يوم القيامة‬

Imam Ali (PBUH) said: “One day Holy Prophet (PBUH) said to me: 'O Ali! On the Day of Judgment, some people will be resurrected who will be wearing the clothes of glory, riding on camels of glory whose bridles are of red garnets. The angels will escort them to 'Mahshar' (the place of congregation).' I (Imam Ali) said: How close are they to their God!. At this the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: 'They are the ones who believe in your Imamah and Wilayah. They are your Shias and friends. They love you for they love me and they love me since God loves them. They are the ones who will be successful on the Day of Judgment.” (Tareekh Madinah Al-Damishq, Volume 42, Page 332) ‫ فأقبل علي بن‬،‫ كنّا عند النبي صلى الل ّه عليه وسل ّم‬:‫ قال‬،‫روى ابن عساكر بإسناده عن جابر بن عبد الل ّه‬ ‫ن‬ ّ ‫ إ‬،‫ والذي نفسي بيده‬:‫م قال‬ ّ ‫ ث‬.‫م التفت اليالكعبة فضربها بيده‬ ّ ‫ ث‬،‫ «قد أتاكم أخي‬:‫ فقال رسول الل ّه‬،‫أبي طالب‬ .‫هذا وشيعته لهم الفائزون يوم القيامة‬ ،‫ وأقسمكم بالسويّة‬،‫ وأعدلكم في الرعيّة‬،‫ وأقومكم بأمر الل ّه‬،‫ وأوفاكم بعهد الل ّه‬،‫ إنّه أوّلكم إيمانا ً معي‬:‫م قال‬ ّ ‫ث‬ .)‫ة‬ ِ َّ‫خي ُر ال َب ِري‬ ِ ‫ين َءا َم ُنوا َو َع‬ َ ‫هم‬ َ ‫حتِ ُأولَ ِئ‬ َ ‫ص ِل‬ َ ‫ (إِنَّ ال َّ ِذ‬:‫ وفي ذلك الوقت نزلت فيه‬:‫ قال‬.»‫وأعظمكم عند الل ّه مزية‬ ُ ‫ك‬ َّ ‫ملُوا ال‬ .89/7:‫البيّنة‬ .‫ قد جاء خير البرية‬:‫كان أصحاب محمد صلى الل ّه عليه وسل ّم إذا أقبل علي قالوا‬

Ibne Asakar with authentication has quoted from Jabir Ibne Abdullah Ansari who said: “We were before Holy Prophet (PBUH) whereupon Imam Ali (PBUH) entered. At this the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: 'Your brother has come.' and then he turned towards Kabah and patted Kabah. Then he said: 'By the God who holds my life, without doubt, this man and his Shias will be successful on the Day of Judgement.' The Holy Prophet (PBUH) continued: “Ali (PBUH) is the first person to believe in me. He is the most faithful among you all towards the covenant with God, most resolute in carrying out the duties assigned by God, most righteous in dealing with the subordinates, most virtuous and closest to God.

It was then that the verse .)‫ة‬ ِ َّ‫خي ُر البَ ِري‬ ِ ‫ح‬ ِ ‫ين َءا َم ُنوا َو َع‬ َ ‫هم‬ َ ِ‫ت ُأولَئ‬ َ ِ‫صل‬ َ ‫( (إِنَّ ال َّ ِذ‬Indeed, they who َّ ‫ملُوا ال‬ ُ ‫ك‬ have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures.) was revealed about Imam Ali (PBUH). Whenever Imam Ali (PBUH) would come, the companioons of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to say: 'The best among God's creation has come.'” (Tareekh Madina Damishq, Volume 42, Page 371) ‫ لعلي‬: ‫ ان الذين امنوا وعملوا الصالحات أولئك هم خير البرية قال‬: ‫ لما نزلت هذه اآلية‬: ‫وعن ابن عباس ( رض ) قال‬ ... ‫هو أنت وشيعتك تأتي يوم القيامة أنت وشيعتك راضين مرضيين ويأتي عدوك غضبانا مقحمين‬

Ibne Abbas says: When the verse “ Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures” was revealed, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said to Imam Ali (PBUH): This verse refers to you and your Shias. On the Day of Judgement, you and your Shias will come such that you will be pleased by God and God will be pleased by you and your enemy will come such that he is enraged and perished. (Nazm dar Al-Simtein, Zrndi Hanfi, Page 92) . " ‫ " أنت وشيعتك في الجنة‬: ‫ قال رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬: ‫ عن الشعبي عن علي قال‬...

Shabi quotes from Imam Ali (PBUH) that Holy Prophet (PBUH) said to him: 'You and your Shias are in Heaven.' (Tareekh Baghdad, Volume 12, Page 284) ‫أن رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم قال لعلي أنت وشيعتك تردون على الحوض رواة مرويين بيضة وجوهكم وان‬ . ‫عدوك يردون على الحوض ظمأ مقمحين‬

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said to Imam Ali (PBUH): “O Ali! You and your Shias will enter upon me near the Pool (in Heaven) with your thirst quenched and your faces bright ang glittering and your enemy will enter upon me near the pool such that he is thirsty and perished. (Al-Majam Al-Kabeer, Al-Tibrani, Volume 1, Page 319, Hadith 948, Chapter Ubaidullah Ibne Abi Rafeh An Abeih)

In Sunni sources, there are about forty narrations of similar content. With respect to the excess of narrators, this narration has attained the status of 'Tawatur' which according to Sunnis confirms the narrtion to be acceptable even if it has got some problem. According to Ibne Teimyah the excess of narrators for a narration support each other and the confidence in this regard is achieved: ‫تعدد الطرق وكثرتها يقوى بعضها بعضا حتى قد يحصل العلم بها ولو كان الناقلون فجارا فساقا فكيف إذا كانوا علماء‬ ‫عدوال ولكن كثر فى حديثهم الغلط‬

The excess of narrators supports one another such that confidence about the narration is achieved regardless of those narrators being of bad character or righteous scholars. Majmooa Al-Fatawa, Volume 18, Page 26

Some of the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who were Shia: Zahbi writes about Hajr IbneAdi: ‫ مقدما‬، ‫ أمارا بالمعروف‬، ‫ أميرا مطاعا‬، ‫ وكان شريفا‬... ‫ له صحبة ووفادة‬. ‫ أبو عبد الرحمن الشهيد‬... ‫وهو حجر الخير‬ . ‫ من شيعة علي رضي هللا عنهما‬، ‫على االنكار‬

He is Hajr Al-Khair (meaning a good person). His nickname was Abu Abd Al-Rahman who got martyred. He was of the companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH). He was a noble person and an obedient commander. He would always command the good and forbid the evil more than others. He is one of the Shias of Ali (PBUH). (Seir Ae'laam Al-Nbla, Volume 3, Page 463)

Zahbi writes about Saeed Ibne Wahab Al-Hamadani Al-Kheiwani Al-Koofi: . ‫ أسلم في حياة النبي صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬... ‫من كبراء شيعة علي‬

He was a great Shia of Ali (PBUH).... who embraced Islam during the lifetime of Holy Prophet(PBUH) (Seir Ae'lam Al-Nbla, Volume 3, Page 180, Text no. 70)

Ibne Abdul Bir writes about Abu Tufail: .‫ وكان متشيّعا ً في علي‬...‫ وقد ذكره ابن أبي خيثمة في شعراء الصحابة‬.. ‫أبو الطفيل عامر بن واثلة الكناني‬

Abu Tufail Amir Ibne Wasila Al-Kanani... Ibne Abi Kheithmah has named him a poet among the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and he was among the Shias of Ali (PBUH) (Al-Iesteyaab Ibne Abdul Bir, Volume 4, Page 1696)

Ibne Abi Al-Hadid writes: .‫وكان سلمان من شيعة على ( عليه السالم ) وخاصته‬

Salman was among Shias and selected companions of Ali (PBUH). (Sharh Nahjul Balagha, Ibne Abi Al-Hadid, Volume 18, Page 39)

Masoodi Shafei while writing about the circumstances of the death of Holy Prophet (PBUH) says: . ‫أن اإلمام عليا أقام ومن معه من شيعته في منزله بعد أن تمت البيعة ألبي بكر‬

After the allegiance of people with Abu Bakr was finished, Imam Ali (PBUH) with his Shias was residing his own house. (Athbaat Al-Wasiyah li Al-Masoodi, 121)

Dr. Subhi Al-Saleh says:

، ‫ أبو ذر الغفاري‬: ‫ منهم‬، ‫كان بين الصحابة حتى في عهد النبي ( صلى هللا عليه وآله وسلم ) شيعة لربيبه علي‬ ‫ والعباس بن عبد المطلب‬، ‫ وأبو الطفيل عمر بن وائلة‬، ‫ وأبي بن كعب‬، ‫ وجابر بن عبد هللا‬، ‫والمقداد بن األسود‬ .‫ وأبو أيوب األنصاري‬، ‫ وعمار بن ياسر‬، ‫وجميع بنيه‬

Even during the times of Holy Prophet (PBUH), among his companions were Shias of Ali (PBUH) who were brought up by Holy Prophet (PBUH) of whom some were: Abuzar Ghafari, Miqtad Ibne Aswad, Jabir Ibne Abdullah, Abi Ibne Ka'b, Abu Tufail Amir Ibne Wailah, Abbas Ibne Abdul Mutlib and all his sons, Ammar Ibne Yasir and Abu Ayub Al-Ansari. (Al-Nazm Al-Islamiyah, Page 96)

Muhammad Kurd Ali in his book Khtat Al-Shaam writes: ، ‫ مثل سلمان الفارسي‬، ‫عرف جماعة من كبار الصحابة بمواالة علي في عصر رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬ ‫ ومثل أبي سعيد‬، ‫ والمواالة له‬، ‫ واالئتمام بعلي بن أبي طالب‬، ‫ بايعنا رسول هللا على النصح للمسلمين‬: ‫القائل‬ ‫ وخالد‬، ‫ وأبي أيوب األنصاري‬، ‫ وحذيفة بن اليمان وذي الشهادتين‬، ‫ ومثل أبي ذر الغفاري وعمار بن ياسر‬... ‫الخدري‬ . ‫ وقيس بن سعد‬، ‫بن سعيد‬

During the times of Holy Prophet (PBUH), a large number of companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) were known for their reverence and allegiance to Ali (PBUH) like Salman who used to say: 'Our allegiance to Holy Prophet (PBUH) constitutes well being of the Muslims, accepting the Wilayah and Imamah of Ali (PBUH) and reverence to him.' And like Abi Saeed Khudri... and like Abuzar Ghaffari, Ammar Ibne Yasir, Huzaifah Ibne Yamaan, Zulshahadatein, Abi Ayub Ansari, Khalid Ibne Saeed, Qeis Ibne Saad. (Khatat Al-Shaam 5/251-256)

Ibne Hazm says: ‫وروينا عن نحو عشرين من الصحابة أن أكرم الناس على رسول هللا ( صلى هللا عليه وآله وسلم ) علي بن أبي‬ .‫طالب‬

We know of about twenty selected companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) who were very much close to Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Imam Ali (PBUH). (Al-Fasl fi Al-Milal wa Al-Ahwaa wa Al-Nahal: 3/32 (4/111), Rakbat Al-Safeina li Marwan Khalifaat, Page 598)

Orign of Shias according to Sunni traditions: Ibne Khaldoon says: ‫ما توفي رسول الل ّه صلى الل ّه عليه وسل ّم كانوا يرون‬ ّ ‫ أ‬،‫ن مبدء هذه الدولة‬ ّ ‫ اعلم أ‬:‫مبدأ دولة الشيعة‬ ّ ‫ن أهل البيت ل‬ .‫ن الخالفة لرجالهم دون سواهم من قريش‬ ّ ‫أنّهم أحق باألمر وأ‬ ‫ما عدل به إلى سواه‬ ّ ‫وفي قصّة الشورى أ‬ ّ ‫ن جماعة من الصحابة كانوا يتشيعون لعلي ويرون استحقاقه على غيره ول‬ .‫تأففوا منه وأسفوا له مثل الزبير ومعه عمار بن ياسر والمقداد بن األسود وغيرهم‬

Know that origin of Shias is that when Holy Prophet (PBUH) died, Ahlulbayt considered the caliphate as their obvious right and believed that only men of Bani Hashim are worthy of caliphate and other men of Quresh had no right in this regard. About consultation as well, a group of companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) came to be known as Shias of Ali (PBUH) who believed that nobody except Ali (PBUH) deserved to be caliph. When a person other than Ali (PBUH) became caliph these companions expressed their weariness and sorrow. These include people like Zubair, Ammar Ibne Yasir, Miqdad Ibne Aswad and others. (Tareekh Ibne Khaldoon, Volume 3, Page 171)

Professor Muhammad Abdullah Anan says: ‫ بل كان بدء الشيعة وظهورهم في عصر‬. ‫ إن الشيعة ظهرت وألول مرة عند انشقاق الخوارج‬: ‫من الخطأ أ ن يقال‬ ‫ (وأنذر عشيرتك‬: ‫ من الشعراء‬412 ‫الرسول ( صلى هللا عليه وآله وسلم ) حين أمره هللا بإنذار عشيرته في اآلية‬ ‫ هذا أخي ووصيي وخليفتي فيكم‬: ‫األقربين) ولبى النبي فجمع عشيرته في بيته وقال لهم مشيرا إلى علي‬ .‫فاسمعوا له وأطيعوا‬

It is mistake to say that Shias originated for the first time during the riots of Khwarij, rather their origin dates back to the time of Holy Prophet (PBUH) when he was appointed as the messenger of God, when he was commanded by God: “Warn your close ones.” It was then that Holy Prophet (PBUH) gathered his relatives in his house and while he was pointing to Imam Ali (PBUH) said: This man is my brother, my Wasih and my successor among you after me. So listen carefully to whatever he says and abide by that. (Rooh Al-Tashayoh li Abdullah Neimah, Page 20)

Abu Hatim Raazi Sahl Ibne Muhammad Ibne Othman, a scholar of linguistic and Quranic sciences, (died 205 AH), says: ‫ صلى‬- ‫ في حياة رسول هللا‬- ‫ صلوات هللا عليه‬- ‫الشيعة لقب لقوم كانوا قد ألفوا أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب‬ ، ‫ وعمار بن ياسر‬، ‫ والمقداد بن األسود‬، ‫ وأبي ذر الغفاري‬، ‫ مثل سلمان الفارسي‬، ‫ وعرفوا به‬- ‫هللا عليه وسلم‬ .‫ وأصحاب علي‬، ‫وكان يقال لهم شيعة علي‬

Shia was the title of those who during the lifetime of Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to revere Ali (PBUH)

and were known for their love of Ali (PBUH) like Salman Farsi, Abuzar Ghaffari, Miqdad Ibne Aswad, Ammar Ibne Yasir. They were known as Shias of Ali (PBUH) or companions of Ali (PBUH). (Al-Zeenah,, 259, Research by: Abdullah Slom Al-Saamraai; Nisha'at Shia li Abdul Mun'em Daud, Page 65, Published in Baghdad, 1968; Al-Shia fi Misr, li Saleh Al-Wardani Al-Mustabsir, Page 10)

Zubair Ibne Bkaar says: .‫ن عليّاً هو صاحب األمر بعد رسولالل ّه‬ ّ ‫ل األنصار ال يشكّون أ‬ ّ ‫وكان عا ّمة المهاجرين وج‬

Publicly the Muhajireen and the Ansaars had no doubt that after Holy Prophet (PBUH) the caliph and the Imam was Ali (PBUH). (Al-Akhbaar Al-Mufaqyaat li Ibne Bkaar, (272), 580; Tareekh Al-Yaqoobi, 2/103)

Sects among Shia: About the subdivisions of Shia, there are different views.

Baghdadi in his book has considered Shias to be divided in three sects: Zeidis, Keisanees and the Imamians. He at first considered Ghalis among the Shias but later on himself said that since they are not Muslims, they cannot be considered as among the sects of Islam. (Al-Farq bein Al-Farq, Baghdai, Abul Qahir, Page 21-23)

Shehristani has included Ismailis among the Shias and considers sects among Shias to be five. (Milal wa Nahal, Shehristani, Volume 1, Page 147)

Khwaja Toosi (a shia scholar) agrees with the view of Baghdadi and considers the Zaidis, Keisanees and Imamians as the three sects of Shia. Qazi Azd Al-Deen Aeiji has the same view. (Khawja Naseer Al-Deen Toosi, Qawaid Al-Aqaaid, Research by Ali Rabbani, Page 110)

Some others considers fours sects to be Shias: Imamaians, Keisaanis, Zaidis and Ismailis. What is famous among the Shia scholars and the historians of nations / peoples is that Shias have three basic sects.