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Preface
The objective of this brief study is to acquaint readers
with the Ahl al-Bait''s (henceforth the prophet household,
i.e. the Imams of his descendants) line of thought and
political approach that emanated from the depth and
authenticity of their Islamic vision. This conviction is
distinguished by its devotion to the Imams of the Prophet
Household, and attachment to their interpretation of the
Islamic doctrine and profound religious knowledge of the
Holy Book and the Prophet traditions which led to its
development into a school of thought and a political line
distinet from other Islamic schools of thought and
jurisprudence.
By tracing and clarifying the origins, foundations and
development of this scholarly approach, it is hoped that
some of the obstacles impeding full understanding between
Muslims will be removed and a further step taken toward
Islamic accord and unity. There is an urgent need for all
Muslims to stand firmly against persistent attempt to
incite sectarian animositied, misconceptions and erect
psychological walls between sects and followers of
various Islamic denominations and thus thwart the plots
of the opponents of Islam to undermine Islamic unity. It
is our belief that this unity can best be attained and
its political structure strengthened in the face of
political and cultural challenges through scholarly
dialogue, objectivity in analysis and criticism, and a
commitment to the Quran.
INTRODUCTION
During the lifetime of the prophet and the diffusion
period the Islamic nation was united ideologically and
politically. Prophet Muhammad was not only the messenger
and interpreter of the sharia (Islamic law) but also the
leader and civic ruler. Soon after the Prophet''s death,
and indeed during the first hours following that, several
divergent intellectual and political streams emerged as a
result of controversies over substantive issues such as
the caliphate (governship) and the imamate (religious and
secular leadership). Later on, further controversies
arose regarding the understanding of Islam, clarification
of its laws and application of its teachings which led to
the emergence of a multiplicity of standpoints, sects and
schools of thought. In the midst of this ideological and
political diversity, the Prophet''s family, namely his
cousin and son-in-law Ali and his posterity, maintained
their own school of thought, tradition and political
approach.
As a result of these controversies Muslims followed
different doctrinal and theological sects and adopted
varying political persuasions History informs us that the
first such group rallied round Imam Ali on the day of the
Prophet''s death and it included the prophet companions
opposed to the Sakifa''s appointment of Abu Bakr as caliph
or successor to the prophet. This group advocated,
instead, the right of Ali to become caliph. However, it
remained inactive until the Ummayid clan took over
control of the Islamic state during the reign of Caliph
Othman when followers of the Prophet Household such as,
companions Abu Thar al-Ghaffari, Ammar ibn (son of)
Yassir and Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr publically campaigned
for reform. After Othman''s death, loyalty to the Prophet
Household and their intellectual and political line
manifested itself in the advocacy of the right of Ali to
succeed Othman as Caliph. Support for this cause came
from the Badri companions, i.e. the companions who fought
in Badr Battle and the participants in al-Radwan
Allegiance (Baiat al-Radwan), all of whom opposed
usurpation of power by the Ummayid clan led by Muawiyah
ibn Abu Suffian in Syria.
The Caliphate period came to an end upon the martyrdom
of Imam Ali ibn abu Talib in 40 a.h. (anno hegira) and
abdication of his son, Imam al- Hassan to Muawiyah after
assuming the caliphate for several months. Subsequently,
loyalty to the Prophet Household and adherence to their
path was considered by the Ummayid rulers as a serious
crime punishable with harassment, imprisonment and even
death. In spite of this, loyalty to the Prophet Household
and commitment to their school of thought, political
viewpoints, and jurisprudence continued and hardened and
their followers increased in number especially after the
revolution of Imam Hussain, son of Imam Ali against the
rule of Yazid, son of Muawiyah and his martyrdom in 61
a.h. Followers of the prophet household were labeled as
Shi''a or Shiite and their persuasion called Shiism.
It is historically documented that the term Shiite
originated in the prophet lifetime. It was first used to
refer to the four companions, namely Abu Thar, Salman
al-Farisi, Ammar ibn Yassir, and al-Muqdad, who were
known then as Ali''s partisans of Shiites. The objective
of this brief study is to present and discuss the basic
tenets of the Shiite school of thought as founded by Ali
and his descendants and representing their methodology,
vision of Islam and understanding of the Holy Book and
the Tradition (Sunna).
