The Difference between the Sunnis and Shiahs

You and every other Muslim is well aware of this fact that there were no Nazaryaati Ikhtilaafs during the noble era of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) and his Sahaabah (radhiAIIaahu anhuma). In fact, during that era, the entire Ummat was free from the bane of (such) Ikhtilaafs and it was a united force against the entities of kufr. The first time that Nazaryaati Ikhtilaafs rose its ugly head was towards the end of the Khilaafat of Hadhral Uthmaan (radhiAIIaahu anhu). This was the starting point of the Shiah creed. Their first basis and initiative was plain, that is (they claimed) that Hadhrat Ali (radhiAIIaahu anhu) who was the close and beloved relative of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) was the first most worthy candidate for the Khilaafat. This theoretical opinion of theirs, albeit seemingly simple and plain, and outwardly amiable, was the antithesis of Islaamic teachings and the 23 years of Nabi's (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) teaching. This is so because Islaam has eradicated the veneration of nepotism and lineage and based honour and dignity on "Taqwa" (piety and fear of Allaali Ta'ala). As far as the attribute of Taqwa was concerned, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (radhiAIIaahu anhu) was the most outstanding amongst the Sahaabah (radhiAIIaahu anhum), as is borne out by the word "At Tagaa" (The Pious One), which appears in Surah Wal-Lail and refers to Hadhrat Abu Bakr (radhiAIIaahu anhu). It is for this reason that he as the most worthy successor to Nabi (sallAIIaahu alaihi wasallam).

In the Jaame Masjid of Kufa, Hadhrat Ali (radhiAIIaahu anhu) was asked the reason as to why Hadhral Abu Bakr (radhiAIIaahu anhu) was made the Khalifah after the demise of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam). Hadhrat Ali (radhiAIIaahu anhu) replied that the most important form of Ibaadat in Deen is Salaat. and Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), during his
final illness appointed Hadhrat Abu Bakr (radhiAllaahu anhu) as the Imaam of the Salaat of the Muslims, notwithstanding the presence of Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu). Even though Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) was fully aware of the presence of Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu), he nonetheless, chose Hadhrat Abu Bakr (radhiAllaahu anhu) as the Imaam, hence Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu) said that the same personality whom Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) chose as the Imaam of the Muslims in Deeni matters, they are pleased to choose him as their Imaam in worldly matters.

This then is the spurious basis which the Shiahs have based their difference upon. The initiator of this Baatil theory was the Munaafiq, who was a Jew, namely Abdullaah Bin Sabaa and his cohorts. They were the ones who burnt at the victories of Islaam. They intended to change the course of the flood of Islaamic progress. They saw no other way except to inject the poison of difference and dispute amongst the Muslim Ummat, thereby rendering it in pieces and scattered the unity of its adherents. When fighting and hostility flares up amongst the Muslims, then there remains no more any guts or spirit in them to fight kufr. Hence they (Shiahs) started their slogan of "Hubbe Ali", thereby spoiling the Aqaa'id of many Muslims and exploding a hydrogen bomb of Ikhtilaaf amongst the Ummat of Muslims.

Had Islaam not been the final religion and had Allaah Ta’ala not made a promise to safeguard it until Qiyaamah, then it was close that this fort of Islaam would have buckled under this vile and evil force. Just as the conniving Jews had spoilt and changed the face of the Deen of Hadhrat Isaa (alaihi salaam), so too would they have scored a success with Islaam. However, the Sahaabah (radhiAllaahu anhum), Tabieen and Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu) himself had challenged this fitnah with force and had thus nipped it in the bud. The result was that the Shiah beliefs and theories were forced and compelled to hide behind the veil of "Taqiyah" (holy hypocrisy).

Later, the Shiahs were split into many groups and sects. The details of this can be seen in the Kitaab of Hadhrat Abdul Qaadir Jjlaani (rahmatullahi alaih), "Ghuniatut Talibeen" and the Kitaab of Hadhral Shah Muhaddith Dehlwi (rahmatullahi alaih), "Tuhfah Ithnaa Ashariyyah". From amongst all these sects of Shiasm, one named "Shiah Imaamiyah" or "Shiah Ithna Ashariyyah'1, is the surviving and existent "Shiah" that is prevalent today. The details of their beliefs are not appropriate at this juncture. Nevertheless, a few of their principles and beliefs are listed hereunder:

1). The theory of Imaamat - The basic principle of the Shiah creed is their "Aqecdah-e-Imaamat". The crux of this belief is that just as Allaah Ta'ala had specially appointed and sent the Prophets (alaihimus salaam) in the same He had sent and specially appointed the Imaams that came after Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam). These Imaams are, according to the Shiah religion also free of faults and sinless. Wahi (Divine Revelation) is sent to them. Their obedience is necessary just as is that of a Prophet. They, just like Prophets, can issue and regulate the rulings of Shariah. They also have the prerogative to change and abrogate any law that is contained in the Qur'aan Majeed.

It is as though the Aqaa'id of lslaam, and its every, aspect is in the hands of a specially appointed Prophet, which is understandable, nevertheless, the Shiahs aver that their "Imaams" have this same status and rank.

This theory of Imaamat of the Shiahs is a rebellious opposition to the finality of Prophethood of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) and it is a clear conspiracy against the existence of Islaam. This is the reason why all the false claimants to prophethood since the times of yore upto Mirza Ghulaam Ahmad have borrowed this Shiah concept of lmaamat as an expedient loophole to their false claims.

This concept of Imaamat of the Shiah religion is inherently and naturally incorrect. The reason being that the Shiahs themselves will not be able to sustain the burden of this belief for a long time. In fact they have terminated their lmaamat theory upon their 12ih Imaam, who, since the year 260A.H. has been in hiding in a cave and has ever since disappeared. Today, an entire 11 centuries later, the Shiahs are still unaware where exactly their Imaam is and what is his condition.

As much as I contemplate upon the Shiah's theory of lmaamat, I am becoming more and more convinced that this theory has been thrust against the finality of the prophethood of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) and it has been connived so as to grant impetus and validity to the false claimants to prophethood and lmaamat. Consider well - since the time of Hadhrat Isaa (alaihi salaam) until the time of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) an entire period of six centuries passed, but there was no guider sent to the Ummat from Allaah Ta'ala. Here on the other hand, after the Sun of the Finality of Prophethood (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), who illuminated the universe with his Noor, passes away, according to the Shiah belief, Allaah Ta'ala did not leave the world for one minute, nay not even one second and He established some 'sinless lmaam' who then changes the Dcen and abrogates the Quraan Majeed. And then, this is not restricted o only one lmaam, there comes 12 of them in succession. And then suddenly, after two and a half centuries of Islaam has passed, Allaah Ta'ala (abruptly) closes the succession of Imaams. In fact, the twelfth lmaam who was sent, is made to disappear forever at the age of two.

Can there be any person who believes in the Nubuwwat of Rasulullaah (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), and who accepts that he (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) was not sent to destroy,
change and disfigure Islaam, in fact, he (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) was sent to sustain and be a means for the procurement of Islaam until the Day of Qiyaamah, ever tolerate this theory of lmaamat of the Shiahs?

The 'seniors' of the Shiah religion, who they brand as their Imaams, have also themselves never claimed lmaamat. They never laid claim to be leaders of the Allaah Ta'ala's creation. In fact, every one of them were the elders of the Ahle Sunnah and they were the illumination to the eyes of the believers. Their Deen and beliefs, their methods and ways, and their manner of lbaadat was never in accordance to that of the Shiah religion. Actually they followed the ways and methods of the Sahaabah and Taabieen. It was in accordance to that Deen which was left by Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), and that which the entire Muslim Ummat practices upon. These pious personalities practised upon this Islaam in front of all to see. However, the Shiahs wish us to believe that the beliefs of these people were something else, but in accordance to their spurious belief in 'Taqiyah' (holy hypocrisy) they were concealing their true beliefs and showing something else to the people. According to the Shiah religion, it is as though Allaah Ta'ala sent sinless Imaams who were incapable of guiding mankind and forever hid behind the cloak of Taqiyah. And their twelfth lmaam is so concealed that none knows his whereabouts to this day! From this we can ascertain that this theory of lmaamat of the Shiahs, not only strikes at the finality of Nubuwwat of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), in fact it is clearly even contrary to the intelligence and reasoning. This can never be the teachings of Allaah Ta'ala, it is the invention of the warped brain of some Jew.

2). The second largest principle of the Shiah religion is their hatred and enmity for the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (radhiAllaahu anhum). According to the Shiahs, all those Sahaabah (this would include Hadhrat Ali - radhiAllaahu anhu) who, after the demise of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), look the pledge of allegiance (Ba'it) at the hands of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (radhiAllaahu anhu) are murtad and kaafir (Nauthubillah!) due to this action of theirs. The reason for this is, that they did not take ba’it at the hands of the sinless Imaam - Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu). And since Hadhrat Ali(radhiAllaahu anhu) did not lay claim to Khilaafat during the eras of all three Khalifahs before him, in fact, he also took Ba'it at their hands, is the reason why the Shiahs are infuriated with him, as well.

This claim of the Shiahs is so spurious and false that it requires no review. The object of this belief of theirs is that the duty of our Nabi (sallAlaahu alaihi wasallam) in this world is, Nauthubillah, completely useless and futile. The claim of Islaam is that he (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) was sent for the guidance of the entire mankind until the Day of Qiyaamah. However, the belief of the Shiahs avers that this is completely incorrect. (According to their belief) Islaam never progressed even for a day after the demise of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), in fact, the entire group (of Sahaabah) upon whom Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) made a concerted effort for 23 continuous years and he prepared them, and whom he made a means of intermediaries between himself and the coming Ummat, all of the became murtad (Nauthubillah!) after his demise. From this is plain, clear and simple that the Shiah creed is the anti-theses of Islaam. That is, if the Shiah religion is correct, then, Islaam is - Nauthubillah - wrong! And if Islaam is correct, then it will be obvious according to any intelligent and right-headed person to conclude that Shiasm is wrong and spurious.

The attack upon the friends and companions of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) is such a blow to Islaam itself and to Nabi's (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) being, that history will fall short of finding a likeness thereof. It is stated in Tafseer-e-Mazhari, that the Ustaad of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahmatullahi alaih), Hadhrat Sha'bi (rahmalullahi alaih) said that if the Jews are asked who are the most revered and honoured persons amongst their Ummat, then they will immediately reply that it is the friends and companions of Hadhrat Moosa (alaihi salaam). And if the Christians are asked the same question, then they will immediately reply that it is the helpers (companions) of Hadhrat Isaa (alaihi salaam). But if the Shiahs are asked the question; "Who are the worst persons amongst your Ummat?" They will immediately reply that it is the Companions of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam. Nauthubillah, Astaghfirullah!

Nevertheless, if the Shiites belief of the theory of Imaamat is an opposition to the finality of Prophethood of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), then their theory of 'tabarra' (showing disdain, disapproval at and abuse of the first Khalifahs of Islaam) is a much worse rebelliousness against the very Nubuwwat of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam). And no person who has belief in Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) will ever be able to condone and tolerate this, that the entire group, whom he (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) had prepared during his lifetime, had Nauthubillah, became murtad the moment his eyes closed.

3). The third belief of the Shiahs is even worse than the previously mentioned two beliefs of theirs. However, just as two plus two equals four, this third belief of theirs is an obvious result of the first two. And this belief of theirs is "Tahreef-e-Qufaan Majeed" (that the Qur'aan Majeed was distorted and tampered with).

Let alone a Muslim, upto this day, not even the worst of kaafirs has the courage to say (and none in their right frame of mind will be able to aver), that the Quraan Majeed which is present with the Muslims of today, that sanctified the Kitaab which has been preserved through the ages, and of which thousands, nay millions have memorised, is not the same Kitaab which was revealed to our Nabi (sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam). But, 'bravo to the inventors of the Shiah religion, who have included this belief in the Shiah creed. The Shiahs aver that the Quraan Majeed which is present with the Muslims today is not the same Qur'aan Majeed as the original which was revealed to Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam). They claim that this is "Sahifa-e-Uthmaani" (the script of Hadhrat Uthmaan -radhiAllaahu anhu).

(They aver that) The original Qur'aan Majeed is hidden with the 12th Imaam in some unknown cave. Besides one of two, every Mujtahid, Aalim and Imaam of the Shiahs accepts this contention. There exist more than two thousand narrations from their 'sinless Imaams' which are unanimous on this issue. How can this not be the case when according to the Shiahs, after the demise of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), Nauthubillah, all the Sahaabah became murtad, so how can it be that they bring Imaan on that Qur'aan-e-Kareem which was conveyed by these Sahaabah?

It is for this reason that those few Shiahs who accept the present Quraan Majeed to be in its original revealed state, have to accept and recognise the integrity and honour of the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam {radhiAllaahu anhum).

It is as though whoever believes as true the Shiah religion, can never bring ring Imaan on the present Qur'aan Majeed. And it is also not possible to bring Imaan in any Qur'aan of the Shiahs.

There are many other beliefs and theories of the Shiah religion, but we will not discuss them here. Just by mere consideration of these three beliefs of theirs, one can ascertain exactly what relationship there is between Islaam and Shiasm. Above, I had mentioned the Hadith wherein Nabi {sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam) drew a line by way of an example and said: "This is Allaah Ta'ala's Path", and then he drew a few lines branching off from this centreline, and said: "These are those paths, upon which each one of them sits a shaitaan, which invites man towards it."

Citing this, I am of the opinion that the Shiah religion is one of the first offshoots and opposing factors of Islaam, which shaitaan has devised and invented through the medium of his Jewish agents in order to mislead man.

Right from the very first day after the demise of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam), did the Shiah religion aspire to sever (he link of the Ummat to his (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam)'s Mubarak being. They had sought to uproot the entire foundation and basis of Islaam, and create another new religion in opposition to Islaam. You may have heard that the Shiah creed is unhappy about the Kalimah of Islaam. In fact, they have added the verse "Ali Waliullah, Wasi Rasulullaah wa Khalifatun Bila Faslin". Since the Shiahs do not accept the Kalimah and the Qur'aan Majeed of the Muslims, then is there anything left to say? And one of the most unfortunate things is their hatred and enmity towards the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (radhiAllaahu anhum ajmaeen), from which all believers seek protection.

The Sahaabah-e-Kiraam were the first recipient of the divine Revelation. Their history is an integral part of the history of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam). Their character and behaviour were proofs of the Nubuwwat of Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam). They were the guide and teachers of the entire coming Ummat. Our Nabi (sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam) placed the duty of conveying the Deen upon their able and capable shoulders. The Ummat that followed, whatever good they had acquired was through the Barkat and blessings of the
Sahaabah-e-Kiraam. It is for this reason that love for the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam stems from the love for Nabi (sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam), since they were nurtured and sprung from him. Hatred for the Sahaabah stems from hatred for Nabi (sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam). Love for them is a part of Imaan. To slur and malign them is not mere disrespect; in fact, it necessitates the removal of Imaan. Therefore my belief is of that of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaat, that the family and companions of Nabi (sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam) are all worthy of the utmost respect and honour.

That person who has even the least bit of connection to Nabi (sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam), will love everything that was close to him. Especially those personalities who were his deputies after his demise. We have been blessed with the honour of Imaan owing to their sacrifices and efforts. Therefore, in the defence of Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu), those who criticised Hadhrat Uthmaan (radhiAllaahu anhu) were, in my opinion, astray. In the same way, I also deem that person to be astray who casts even the slightest slur and criticism at Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu). Also, that person who. in defence of Yazeed criticises Hadhrat Hussein (radhiAllaahu anhu). I understand the love and affection for every family member and companion of Nabi (sallAliaahu alaihi wasallam) to be a part of Imaan. I deem any criticism levelled at any one of them, be it by way of indication, inference or directly to be a sign of one losing his Imaan. This is my belief. I hope to meet Allaah Ta'ala in His Court with this belief of mine.

Excerpt from the book "Differences in the Ummat"
By Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Ludhianvi (rah)