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.
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).