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Newsletter for April 2012
Some Common Misconceptions about Shi'ism
by Shahid Athar M.D.
The centuries-old Shia-Sunni differences are the major obstacle
to Muslim unity. These differences have always been fanned by
the enemies of Islam to their benefit. Unfortunately, some
so-called Muslim scholars on their payroll have also played a
key role in keeping these differences alive.
Although I was born into a Sayyid Sunni family, I did not know
of many differences while growing up as a child. Our families
always respected Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) and his
parents and participated in ceremonies marking the anniversary
of his martyrdom (the 10th day of the month of Muharram which is
called Ashura) by reciting the first chapter of the Quran (al-Fatihah)
and other chapters and verses of the Quran and fasted on the
ninth and tenth days of that month.
Now when I give lectures on Islam to non-Muslims, one of the
questions they always ask me is if I am Shia or Sunni. I ask
them if they know the difference. They have no knowledge, other
than what has been given to them by the media. So they say Shias
are the ones who are the bad guys, the militant version of
Islam, and cause all the trouble in the Middle East these days.
These non-Muslim American audiences of mine are surprised to
learn that some of the known tyrants like Saddam Hussain and
troublemakers like the PLO and Hamas are all Sunnis, just as
they are surprised to learn that Tariq Aziz (Iraq's Foreign
Minister) is Christian and not a Muslim.
This is what I say to them about Shi'ites."If Ali Ibn Talib
(cousin of Prophet Muhammad) was a Shia, then I am a Shia. If he
was a Sunni, then I am a Sunni(i.e., a follower of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH). In Islam there are five recognized schools of
Divine Law:1) Hanafi;2) Shafi;3) Maliki;4) Hanbali and5) Jafari.
The first four are called Sunni, and the fifth one, who in
addition to following sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), also follows those of Ali and consider him as the
rightful successor of the Prophet, are called Shia. The first
four have many major theological differences among themselves
and according to a Christian friend of mine, "The only time
Sunnis are united is when they are fighting Shias."Shi'ism
started as a political movement (Shia means follower or
partisan) to help Ali become successor of Muhammad (PBUH).
Around every successful popular figure, there are some admirers
whose own future interests rest with the rise of their leader.
Thus in Indiana, we have "Friends of Lugar Club", who are hoping
that some day Senator Richard Lugar will become a US President.
Nationally, we now have a "Hillary Rodham Clinton Fan Club" with
4,000 members! Thus, there were the Followers of Ali Club which
later on became apolitical movement. During the initial battles
with unbelievers, Ali, the Sword of Islam, was in the forefront
and defeated and killed many of their leaders whose children and
grandchildren, even when they became Muslims, always remembered
who killed their father (animosity).
Ali was raised by Prophet Muhammad as a child so he knew Islam
very well. Thus, when he became a judge, his judgments were
based on strict Islamic principles, much to the disappointment
of many who expected him to be lenient to the rich and powerful.
He was so well respected and trusted by both Caliph Abu Bakr and
Umar, that in difficult cases they asked his opinion.
Nevertheless, I tell my non-Muslim audience that both Shia and
Sunni have many things in common. They both believe in One God
(Allah), follow the same Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the last
Prophet, offer five daily prescribed prayers, perform the
prescribed fast in the month of Ramadan, go to Mecca for the
pilgrimage (hajj),read the same Quran, and pay the poor-due.
However, my answers can only satisfy my uninformed non-Muslim
audience. TheSunni brothers, misguided by western propaganda.
who are ready to embrace non-Muslims (especially the white
ones), in the pretext of invitation to Islam, will not do so for
Shia. They are ignorant Sunnis. Our job as a missionary should
be to invite both groups to the true Islam and not chase them
out. There is a movement in the Sunni world to have Shias
labeled as disbelievers. I have been told that Shaykh Bin Baz of
Saudi Arabia has declared an edict that the meat of the People
of Book (Jews and Christians) is permissible for Sunni Muslims
to eat but not the meat slaughtered by Shias.
There are scholars on both sides, like Imam Khomeini and Shaykh
Shaltut of al-Azhar who have done their best to minimize these
differences and bring unity, but it is not working due to the
misinformation prevailing in the common masses of Sunnis about
Shi'ism. Thus I am listing their misconceptions of Shia belief
and practices. For answers, I have consulted two Shia scholars
in America., Dr. A. S. Hashim o fWashington and Imam Muhammad
Ali Elahi of Detroit.
Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr wrote to me "to ignore and not
waste time in responding to such wrong allegations." He also
mentioned that "a great deal of money and effort is being spent
in the last few years to fan the fire of hatred between Shia and
Sunni in the Persian Gulf region with obvious political and
economical fruits for powers to-be." However, in the interest of
Islamic unity, I must deal with the questions rather than shun
them. Please note that Imam Jafar (peace be upon him), founder
of the Shia school of law, was the teacher of Imam Abu-Hanifa
(peace be upon him).
Misconception #1: Shias have a different Quran. They add another
10 chapters to the original Quran.
Response: Not true. I have checked many times Quran kept in Shia
homes and mosques. I still find it the same as the original
Quran. More recently, I took care of an Iranian lady patient
hospitalized here. I saw a copy of the Quran by her side. I
borrowed it from her and browsed through cover to cover. In
Arabic it was the same as our Quran. Of course, since I did not
know the Persian language, I can't say much about the
translation. It is a sin to even say that the Quran can be
changed or added to by Shia when it is protected by God.
Misconception #2: Some Shia consider Ali as God.
Response: Not true. It is disbelief to even think of such a
thing. During the time of Ali, some pagan groups called Gholat
did consider Ali as Lord. When he found out, they were burned to
death.
Misconception #3: Shias have different declarations of faith and
they add to the call to prescribed prayer.
Response: The declaration to become a Muslim, as administered to
non-Muslims, is the same. Some Shia add to themselves, "Ali is a
friend of God (PBUH) or Ali is a spiritual leader of God," after
the call to prescribed prayer, but not as part of the call to
prescribed prayer.
Misconception #4: Shias do not perform sunnah prayers. Sunnah
prayers are non obligatory prayers performed by Prophet
Muhammad.
Response: Shias do perform non-obligatory prayers, 36 cycles per
day in total, but call it nawafil and not sunnah.
Misconception #5: Some Shia believe the Angel Gabriel made a
mistake and prophethood was meant for Ali and not Muhammad
(PBUH).
Response: Not true. No Shia thinks of such false claims. "Only
demented minds think of such questions."
Misconception #6: Shias slander and ridicule the first three
caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman) and Prophet Muhammad's wife,
Ayisha.
Response: Shia consider the first three caliphs as great
companions and good Muslim administrators, but not spiritual
leaders (imams). Imam Jafar Sadiq, whose mother and grand mother
came from the line of Abu Bakr, said of Abu Bakr, "He gave me
birth twice." Ayisha is respected by Shias as the"Mother of
Believers," as Ali respected her when he sent her back from
Basra to Madinah after the Battle of the Camel. If some Shia do
slander the three caliphs and Ayisha, they do it out of
ignorance and should ask God's forgiveness.
Misconception # 7: Shias combine all five prayers into one
prayer in the evening.
Response: Not true. In Shia mosques, whether in Iran or the USA,
all five daily prayers are performed. Some working Shia do
combine noon and afternoon and evening and night, but Shia
scholars recommend performing them separately. Such combinations
may not be ideal, but better than not praying at all. How can a
Sunni who does not pray at all be better than a Shia who
combines prayers?
Misconception # 8: Shias do not pay zakat (poor-due).
Response: Not true. They not only pay 2.5% left over from
savings as zakat, but also an additional 20% as khums or general
charity. However, they prefer to pay directly to the needy
rather than corrupt Sunni government.
Misconception #9: Shias practice temporary marriages (mutah).
Response: Mutah (temporary marriages) was allowed during the
time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and he himself practiced it. Ibn
Zubayr was born out of the temporary marriage. Later on Caliph
Umar prohibited it due to social reasons as the Islamic world
was rapidly expanding. Shias discourage mutah but do not
consider it prohibited. Some do abuse this. As a temporary
privilege during travel, it is better than adultery.
Misconception #10: They consider Imams infallible and above the
prophets.
Response: Not true. All prophets are born Prophet but as
mentioned in Quran about Abraham that after passing the test, a
prophet becomes a leader (Imam). Imams are carriers of the
message of Islam. Shias consider Ali only as an Imam, but
Muhammad (p) is the Prophet (nabi), Messenger (rasul) and leader
(imam). With the little knowledge I have, I have tried to do my
best as a Sunni in defending my Shia brothers in Islam with the
hope and prayer to God Almighty that He will "instill love in
the heart of the believers" and bring us closer to each other so
that we jointly can fight our common enemy, Satan and his
followers.
May God forgive my mistakes in this article and this book (amin).
Shahid Athar M.D. is Clinical Associate Professor of Internal
Medicine and Endocrinology, Indiana University School of
Medicine Indianapolis, Indiana, and a writer on Islam.
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