Shi’a is the term associated with the followers of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). Shi’a in it’s literal sense means follower, the Fid’aeen (lovers of) Ali (a.s) were referred to as Shi’a-ne-Ali. The Sunni faith takes it’s origin from the word Sunnah, as in the actions and sayings of the Holy Prophet (Pbuh). These sects of Islam are the oldest, where then the Shi’a are divided into the Jaffery’s (The Twelver Shi’a) and the Ismailis (Those who believe Ismail (a.s) the brother of Jaffer as Sadiq (a.s) was the rightful chosen Imam – The current Agha Khan of the Ismailis is considered the heir to this ideology, believing the last imam, Imam Mahdi(a.s) will come from his family). The Sunni religion is also then divided into Wahabis, Deobandis, Brahlvis, and an off-shoot branch of Ahmadi’s which both Shia and Sunni scholars reject as a prominent Islamic branch – this is since they do not believe in the finality of the Prophet, one of the major pillars of Islam.
The Shi’a’s historically existed prior the advent of Sunni Islam. However who came first or later never proved who was right or wrong. The followers of Ali became prominent in their ways of spreading the word of Ali (a.s) amongst the Arabs. The opposition realized that this would harm the political endeavor of the current Caliphs, thus they supported the opposition to the narrative of Ali (a.s.) with the narrative of Sunni-ism.
Shi’a’s promoted Ali(a.s) as the true successor of the Prophet(Pbuh), whilst Sunni’s promoted the Caliphate of the Umayyad’s, those of Bani Abbas, and initially the Quraysh. The inter-tribal conflict played for centuries, and their regions defined. Iraq and Iran are the main hub of Shi’a Islam, having significant cities that support the ideology. Najaf, and Karbala being extremely prominent cities that have the graves of Imam Hussain (a.s) and his family who died in Karbala when attacked by Yazid’s appointed commanders Ibn Ziyad and Omar bin Saad bin Abi Waqas. Iran hosted the advent of Ismaili Shi’as, yet still very prominent with the faith of Shi’ism harboring their two main Ayatollah’s(leaders).
The question arises that why was the advent of Shi’ism so dangerous to the Sunni’s and why does the conflict continue to prosper.
Shi’as have been attacked for their various practices and their mourning processions, claiming it to be against the virtues of Islam. Historically and religiously speaking, Yaqub (a.s) cried for 40 years till he went blind over the sadness of losing his son Yousaf (a.s), even though he was alive and in Egypt. The Prophet (Pbuh) himself cried loudly when he was told by the Archangel Gabriel that his grandson Hussein(a.s) would be martyred. Following the processions of latham/matam: the word matam means death. It was Arab culture to viciously run and beat their faces and chests, chanting along the way informing the people of their city that someone they love has been harmed. People believe these are only Arab traditions. In Ancient Greece, when anyone was informed of a death of a close being, the women would cover their faces with a veil kneel and slap their heads. In Scandinavia and Britain, poems were read of both victory and sorrow for the heroics or cruelty of tyrants. The Nauha(poetry for Imam Hussain(a.s) and Martyrs of Karbala) is precisely of that tradition, poetry that informs the public of what occurred in those times to their beloved Hussain (a.s). The actions of self-harm via blades and knives (zanjeer) has been a question for long. While this is a Brahmin adopted practice of the Sub-continent, some believers claim that when a follower shattered all his teeth when he heard the Prophet(Pbuh) lost his tooth in the Battle of Uhud, is a precedent for their actions. Although zanjeerzani and qamazani have both been requested by the Grand Ayatollah’s of Iran and Iraq to be avoided.
Thus, continues the argument to new found narratives. At first, claiming Ali(a.s) to be the rightful successor was constantly bashed and associated with shirk(the unforgivable sin for claiming someone greater than or equal to God). However, immense credit goes to Sayyed Ammar Nakshwani, for literally breaking down the etymology and context of Arabic at the time of appointing Ali(a.s.) as his successor. Whence this solution was presented, many prominent Sunni scholars had no choice but to accept and promote this reality alongside the Shi’a belief. However, then came the new narrative of their processions and lamentations. The history written above was then presented and that topic slowly vanished too. Now recently, a new narrative is being garnered, that why was Hussein (a.s)’s son chosen as Imam and not the son of Hassan (a.s). There has also been an unfair claim towards the Shi’a’s for not promoting Hassan ibn Ali (a.s) in their processions as much as Hussein (a.s). For those who are unaware, Lahore is the center of Azaadari (processions for the AhlulBayt) in Pakistan. On the 28th Day of the Islamic month of Safar, which is known as the day Imam Hassan Al Mujtaba was killed by poisoning, by his own wife who was bribed by Muawiya bin Abu Sufyan, is when the largest number of people begin their processions from 2am the previous night, till the dead of night the next day. The largest population comes out in love for Hassan Ibn Ali(a.s) on this day, and the emotions are equal that of Hussein Ibn Ali, the Shi’as do not place one greater than the other, nor has that thought ever been garnered. Similarly, 7th or in some places 8th of Muharram is dedicated to Shehzada Qasim (a.s) one of the sons of Hassan ibn Ali(a.s) who was martyred in Karbala, at the age of 14 as some historians say.
The issue is not the answers to the various questions, intrigue will always follow with results. The problematic reality is the constant attempt to diminish the religious beliefs of the Shi’a. James Waterson quotes in his book on the history of assassins, that when the Abbasids were in power, Al-Mansur’s perfumer had discovered a hidden cavern under the caliphs palace. There laid vast bodies, all with tags in their ears signifying their descendance to Ali and Muhammad (Pbuh). The bodies were of all ages both women and children. Some historians believe this was Al-Mansur’s way of eradicating the chance of Mahdi(a.s) from appearing and diminishing their Abbasid Empire. Other’s analyze that the Shi’a’s of Ali had now become solely constricted to the Imams of the AhlulBayt. A danger to Al-Mansur’s crown.
Similarly, Zaid Bin Arkam, a companion, was present at the day of Ghadeer, when Ali was appointed. When Ali was not given the position and it was handed to the Qurayshis, Ali asked Zaid to give his accounts, to which he denied seeing anything. Ironically, Zaid bin Arkam became sick with blindness in some accounts of history, credit for this research goes to Nakshwani once more. And even more ironically, it was Zaid bin Arkam’s Hadith in Sahih Muslim, where he says that on the day of Ghadeer/Ghadir, The Prophet (Pbuh) has left us with two weighty things, the Quran and his AhlulBayt(a.s)[Sahih Muslim – Passage 2408b – Khumm].
Leslie Hazleton, an American woman of Jewish descent, an historian of great intellect and understanding. She deciphered that when the Prophet asked for the pen and paper to write his will and successor, the future two caliphs, their siblings and wives, all were worrisome that what if he writes the name of Ali(a.s). To which Umar Khattab responded, “the Quran and your Hadith is Enough!”.
It is evidently a lack of common sense, and a lack of reading, that has led to a separation between the two sects. This will forever remain, till the end of times, solely, because it was the Banu Umayyad’s that spread their version of History and Islam amongst the populace. Muhammad Bin Qasim who brought the religion to India, was the nephew of the cannibalistic, murder and rape loving Hajjaj bin Yousaf, an Umayyads Commander. The 1001 Arabian Nights, Ibn Khaldun, others were all Umayyads works to defy and desecrate the light of Ali(a.s).
If anyone wishes to find a solution or solace in history between these walls, then you must read. For reading is the only answer. For those who believe in their doubts of the religious practices of the Shi’a, their point isn’t for you to join, their point is for you to know what happened. The strange arguments that are placed before the Shi’a, why believe in Ali and Hussein so much? Then the same question is extended – Why believe in the friends of the Prophet over the family of the Prophet(Pbuh)? Islamic books in schools do not dive into the history of the Shi’a, Islamic “scholars” believe laws should be imposed on restrictions of Shi’a processions. These are remembrance of the Abbasids attempt to destroy the Shi’as between 870-896 A.D. Leslie Hazleton deserves credit once more, when she deciphered the habits of the Arabs, writing that how ironic it is that the an area that is unaware and unfamiliar to democracy, voted for the seat of the Prophet(PBUH).
Editor
