Introducing Shia 3
In the previous episodes, I talked about some introductions concerning my main topic that is introducing Shia. I introduced the main source on which I am proceeding, the book “Shi’ite Islam” by Allame Tabatabai. Then I talked about three terms that relates to our topic; they were Religion, Islam and Shi’ism. Now in this episode, I want to start the main topic, means introducing Shia. As I promised, in this episode I’m going to talk about historical background of Shi’ism. The first question that we are facing with in the history of Shi’ism, is the origin of Shi’ism. Where has Shia came from? And when and where was it formed? In this episode, I want to talk about this significant subject.
Based on historical reports and evidences, during the lifetime of the prophet, there were some groups of people who known as fans of Ali and they were called Shi’ite Ali. There were many reasons why a group of people during the period of prophecy, means last 23 years of the lifetime of the Prophet, introduce themselves as the Shi’ites. The prophet Muhammad in different times and places, had pointed to his successor and to this issue that this placement is belongs to Imam Ali. The prophet’s efforts to introduce Ali as his successor, had not been in secret, and the prophet intentionally in different times had pointed to his successor. So, it was natural that some people at that time, during the lifetime of the prophet, called themselves as Shi’ite Ali. Let me point to some of these historical reports:
1. Yawm al-Indhar
As was mentioned, introducing Ali as the successor by prophet, happened several times from the early years of the rises of Islam. Based on one of these reports, the prophet in the first public invitation to Islam, introduced Ali as his successor and inheritor.
Based on the verse 214 of the chapter 26 of the Quran, which was revealed to the Prophet(s) three years after Bi’that(612-13 CE), the Prophet was ordered to warn the nearest of his kins and invite them to Islam.
وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ ٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ
And warn, [O Muḥammad], your closest kindred.
According to what is mentioned in Shia and Sunni commentaries of the Qur’an, after receiving this command, the Prophet (s) invited 40 of his nearest kins for a meal. He then said to them:
O Children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib! I do not think anyone from among the Arabs has ever brought his people something better than what I have brought for you. I have brought you the happiness of this world and the hereafter. Then he continued, I invite you to two words, and with these two words you will enter paradise and be saved from hell. These two words are saying that “there is no god but Oneness God” (لا اله الا الله), and testifying that I am the prophet of God. Then he said, Which one of you will help me in this mission and become my vicegerent and deputy? Everyone was silent. Then ‘Ali (a) said, O Messenger of God, I will! The Prophet then said, This is my vicegerent and caliph among you. Listen to what he (a) says and follow his orders.
As I said, one of the verses of the Quran has pointed to this event, so this event has stated in the Quranic exegesis; This verse known as Al-Indhar verse. From other angle, this event has stated in sources of Hadiths, because as it’s mentioned, the Prophet has stated a narration in that gathering. This narration known as Hadith Yawm al-Indhar or Hadith al-‘Ashira or Hadith Yawm al-Dar, has stated in sources of Hadiths. And also, as a historical Event, Muslim historians have addressed to this event. Among these Qur’anic exegesis and sources of hadith and history, I can point al-Burhan by Bahrani, Tafsir al-Qurʾan al-ʿzim by Ibn Kathir, al-Durr al-manthur by Suyuti, Majmaʿ al-bayan by Tabrisi and other Islamic scholars.[1]
If we accept that the Prophet has introduced Ali as his successor in that party, then it is unlikely that the Prophet didn’t repeat that action. The Prophet, surely Has introduced Ali to the people, at least to the some of his near companions. Also, it is unlikely that the Prophet introduced Ali as his successor, but didn’t give a duty to him as a successor and didn’t pay attention to his position.
2. Personal characteristics of Imam Ali
According to lots of completely authenticated hadiths, that both Sunnis and Shi’ites have stated, the Prophet explicitly said that Ali is free from error and sin in his actions and words. Thus, whatever he says is perfect and based on the teachings of religion. Based on one of these narrations that Umm Salmah has recounted, the Prophet said:
Ali is always with the Truth (haqq) and the Quran, and the Truth and the Quran are always with him, and until the Day of Judgment they will not be separated from each other.
This hadith has been transmitted through fifteen channels in Sunni sources and eleven in Shi’ite sources. Umm Salmah, Ibn ‘Abbas, Abu Bakr, A’ishah are among its transmitters.[2]
Also, the prophet said about Ali, he is the most knowledgeable of men in the issues in matters pertaining to Islamic sciences and commands. Let me recount one of these narrations. The Prophet said:
Arbitration has been divided into ten parts. Nine parts are given to Ali and one part is divided among all the people.[3]
Also, Salman Farsi has transmitted this saying from the Prophet:
After me the most learned of men is Ali.[4]
3. Ali’s services and sacrifices
No Islamologist or historian can deny Ali’s services and sacrifices, especially in the early years of Islam. On the night of the migration, when the Prophet was informed by God that he was going to be killed by the infidels of Mecca, so he decided to emigrate to Medina, it was Ali who was lying in the bed of the Prophet and foiled the plan of the infidels. This event is so significant that it became the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The details of this emigration and Ali’s sacrifice, has been stated in sources of history. Among these sources I can mention al-Ta’rikh by Tabari, al-Bidayah Wa’l-nihayah by Ibn al-Kathir and other Muslim historians.[5]
There are many reasons why the Prophet and the Muslims left Mecca. Briefly, I can say that Mecca was no longer suitable and safe for the Muslims and the Prophet was sensing that many of his followers could not bear any more suffering in Mecca. In addition to safety concerns, the Prophet also did not have the freedom to propagate his message. The message of Islam was universal and by remaining in Mecca, he would be depriving others from hearing the word of God. At the result, Muslims, in groups, with the permission of the Prophet began to emigrate to Medina, which at that time called Yathrib, and the Prophet remained in Mecca waiting for the permission of God for his Hijra. In less than 3 months, most of the companions of the Prophet emigrated to Medina. Finding the support of the people of Medina for the Muslims, heads of Quraysh realized that Yathrib has become a base for the Prophet and his followers, so they feared the emigration of the Prophet. They held a meeting in a place in the name of Dar al-Nadwa and at the end, they decided to choose one man from each tribe and they kill the Prophet altogether, so Banu Hashim, the kinsmen of the Prophet, could not fight all of the tribes.
God informed His Prophet about the assassination plan. The verse 30 of chapter 8 of the Qur’an is narrated to be revealed then:
وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ
When the faithless plotted against you to take you captive, or to kill or expel you. They plotted and Allah devised, and Allah is the best of devisers.
So, on the first night of the Rabi of the year 14 after Bi’that (622 CE); the Prophet left Mecca. At that night, Ali slept in the bed of the Prophet, so that the assassins will not realize the emigration of the Prophet. The night is called Laylat al-Mabit (night of the sleeping). The verse 207 of chapter 2 of the Qur’an is revealed about the sacrifice of Ali for saving the life of the Prophet.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
And among the people is he who sells his soul (life) seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants.
Also, we can point to the role of Ali in battles of Islam with infidels and Jews. Ali participated in almost every major battle of early Islamic history, the battels of Badr, Uhud, Khaybar, Khandaq and Hunayn. According to authentic sources, if Ali had not been presented in those wars, probably the enemy destroy Islam totally. At the Battle of Uhud (625 CE), Ali stood by the side of the Prophet who was hurt and risking his own life.
4. Event of Ghadir Khumm
As I mentioned, choosing Ali as the Successor of the prophet, it’s not based on one or two evidences. There are many reasons for this issue, but surely the central and main evidence of this topic is event of Ghadir Khumm. In this event that Is relate to the final pilgrimage of the Prophet, He explicitly proclaims Ali as his deputy and successor. In that event, the Prophet chose Ali to the “general guardianship” (walayat-i ‘ammah) of the people and made Ali, like himself, their “guardian” (wali).
According to Shi’ite beliefs, on returning from the last pilgrimage to Mecca on the way to Mednia, at a site called Ghadir Khumm the Prophet chose Ali as his successor before the vast crowd that was accompanying him. The Shi’ites celebrate this event to this day as a major religious feast marking the day when the right of Ali to succession was universally acclaimed.
The hadith of Ghadir in its different versions, is one of the definitely established hadiths among Sunnis and Shi’ites. More than one hundred of the companions have recounted it with different chains of transmission and expressions, and it has been recorded in books of Sunnism and Shi’ism.[6]
Furthermore, the phrase of “Shi’ite Ali” or “Shiite of household”, has repeated a lot by the Prophet, so we have to know the beginning of Shi’ism, from the beginning of Islam. Let me recount one of these narrations which is recorded in the book Al-Duirr aI-manthur of Suyuti. Jabir says:
We were in the presence of the Prophet when Ali appeared from far away. The Prophet said:
I swear by Him who holds my life in His hands, this person and his partisans (Shi’ah) will have salvation on the Day of Judgment
Also Ibn ‘Abbas says:
When the verse: (And) lo! Those who believe and do good works are the best ofcreated beings (Qur'an 98:7) was revealed, the Prophet told Ali: This verse pertains to you and your partisans who will possess felicity on the Day of Judgment and God will also be satisfied with you.
These two hadiths and several others are recorded in the book Al-Duirr aI-manthur of Suyuti.[9]
والسلام
Notes:
| ↑1 | Bahrani, al-Burhan, vol. 4, p. 186-189; Furat al-Kufi, Tafsr furat al-kufi, p. 300; Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qurʾan al-ʿzim, vol. 6, p. 151-153; Suyuti, al-Durr al-manthūr, vol. 5, p. 97; Hakim al-Haskani, Shawahid al-tanzil, vol. 1, p. 542-543; Tabrisi, Majmaʿ al-bayan, vol. 7, p. 322-323; Ibn Hisham, Al-Sira al-nabawiyya, vol. 1, p. 262. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Ghayat al-mararn pp.539-540. The Prophet has also said, “God bless Ali for the Truth is always with him.” Al-Bidayah wa’l-nihayah, vol. VII. P.36 |
| ↑3 | Al-Bidayah wa’lnihayah. Vol.7, p.359. |
| ↑4 | Ghayat al-maram, p.528 |
| ↑5 | Tabari, al-Ta’rikh, Cairo, 1357, vol.II, p.63: Abu’l.Fida’ Al-Ta’rikh, Cairo, 1325, vol. I, p.116: Ibn al-Athir, al-Bidayah Wa’l-nihayah, Cairo. 1358, vol.III, p.39; Bahrani, Ghayat Al-maram. Tehran. 1272, p.320. |
| ↑6 | Concerning details, refer to Ghaayat al-maram, p. 79, ‘Abaqat of Musawi India, 1317 (Volume on Ghadir) and al-Ghadir of Amini, Najaf, 1372 |
| ↑7 | Tarikh-I Ya’qubi, Najaf, 1358, vol, II, pp. 137 and 140; Tarikh-I Abi’l-Fida’, vol. I, p.156; sahih of Bukhari, Cairo, 1315, vol. IV, p.207; Muruj al-dhahab of Mas’udi, Cairo, 1367, Vol.ll, p.437, vol.lll, pp.21 and 61. |
| ↑8 | Sahih of Muslim, vol. XV, p.176; Sahih, of Bukhari, vol. IV, p.207; Muruj al-dhahab, vol.lll, p.23 and vol.ll, p.437; Tarikh-I Abi’l-Fida’, vol.l, pp.127 and 181 |
| ↑9 | Cairo’, 1313, vol. VI, p.379, and Ghayat al-maram, p.326. |
