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Shiism

Shiism, or chi `ism in the texts of the Middle Ages.

The important figures of the Shiite Shi'a (majority) are the authors of various benchmarks such as Al-Kouleini, Al-Majlis, and most recently, Al-Khu'i, Sistani Khoumeini, etc..

Summary

/ / Etymology

The term Shi'a in the Arab Shi'a means originally a group of supporters. In the Qur'an , the term is used several times in this direction. For example, in verse 28: 15 where supporters of Moses are described by Shiites. Also, Abraham is introduced as a Shiite Noah (verse 37: 83). At the beginning of Islamic history, the term "Shi` ite "was used in its original or literal meaning to refer to supporters of different people such as Shi'a Ali ibn Abi Talib and those of Muawiya I.. However, the term has gradually acquired the secondary meaning supporters of Ali, who believed in his Imamat. In his Al-Firaq Shi `ah al-Hasan ibn Musa al-Nawbakhti, Shia scholar, writes:

"The Shiites are the followers of Ali. They are called "Shia of Ali" during and after the Prophet's life and are known as supporters of Ali and believed in his Imamat. "

Sheikh Mufid, a leading Shiite scholars, defines the Shiites as those who follow Ali and believe in its immediate succession after Muhammad. In explaining why the Shiites are also called "Immyah", he said:

"It's a way for those who believe in the necessity of the Imamate and its continuity at any age, and that each Imam must be explicitly designated, and must be flawless and perfect. "

Muhammad al-Shahrastani , in his Al-Milal wa al-Nihal, a source on different groups in Islam, writes:

"The Shia are those who follow Ali in particular, and who believed in his Imamat and Caliphate according to explicit instructions and wishes of the Prophet Muhammad. "

. It is a very precise definition, since the Shiites themselves believe that the reason to follow Ali is motivated by the requirement of the Prophet.

Thus, we can say that Shiites are the ones who have the following beliefs about the succession of Muhammad:

  1. The succession of Mohammed is a divine appointment.
  2. As Muhammad was chosen by God, or his successor Imam must also be chosen by God and then inspired to Muhammad.
  3. The immediate successor of Muhammad Ali would be.
  4. The successor must be infallible, committing no errors even human .

Appointment of successor

The Shiites believe that the persons chosen from among the family of Muhammad (the Imams ) were the best source of knowledge about the Koran , the Islam of the emulation (the successors of the prophethood after Muhammad) and the protective strongest of the sunnah of Muhammad. A prophetic tradition (reported by both Sunni and Shia) argues: "I am the city of knowledge, Ali is its door. Whoever wants to know and the wisdom he passes by the door so . It should be noted that the symbolism of the door is common in the different traditions of initiation.

In particular, the Shia recognize the succession of Muhammad Ali ibn Abi Talib (cousin, son and first man to accept Islam - after Khadijah - and also one of five members of the Ahl al-Bayt or " of the household of the Prophet "). Instead, Muslim Sunnis recognize the caliphate. The Shiites believe that Muhammad designated Ali as his successor on many occasions, and it is the spiritual leader of Muslims, according to the divine mission revealed to Muhammad.

For Shiites, the appointment of Imam Ali as occurred early in the Prophecy, was repeatedly confirmed, and the last was held the day of al-Ghadir. The first appointment of Ali took place the day the Prophet met his family, the Banu Hashim, and invited them to accept the new message of Islam. He addressed them in these terms:

"" O son of Abdul Muttalib, I do not know of any young man among the Arabs who has brought his people better than what I brought you. I bring you the best of life here and in beyond. Allah has ordered me to invite you to Him. Who among you may wish to assist me, become my brother, my ruler and my successor among you? " Silence reigned among the clan (...) Since nobody spoke, Ali, then aged 13, felt compelled to speak and said: "I'll be your support, O Prophet of Allah". The Prophet took him by the neck and said: "This is my brother, my ruler and my successor among you. Listen to him and obey him." People got up mocking, and spoke ironically Abi Taleb, "He commands you to listen and obey your son .. . "

All Sunni historians relate and agree with this tradition, but they do not interpret the scope beyond the Prophet's family.

The recent appointment of Ali took place on the day of al-Ghad, after the farewell pilgrimage, when Muhammad announced solemnly in front of thousands of pilgrims, one of his most important speeches:

"The one I am the best / master (Mawla), Ali is also an ally / master . My God, be the friend of those who allied with him and be the enemy of him who takes it as an enemy . "

Sunnis interpret polysemic term mawla mean "friend" and Shiites interpret it to mean master. This difference between recognition of the power priority of the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of Muhammad) or the Caliph Abu Bakr has shaped Shia and Sunni doctrines about the Koran , the Hadith and other points. The Shiites, to justify the need for allegiance to the Prophet's household, including invoking the hadeeth al-Thaqalayn, reported by sources including the Sunni Sahih Muslim: "I'm about to die, but I'll leave two precious things, the first being the book of Allah, and the second being the members of my family (Ahlou bayti). I urge you remember your duties to my ahl al bayt . "

According to Shiites, the Prophet explicitly designated Ali as his successor (Caliph or Imam), who will assume the responsibility both to manage the empire and to guide believers in their spiritual life after three other caliphs. Would he have been chosen earlier? "Indeed, as Jean-Paul Roux, there is no shortage of titles. He is a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad has brought his father when he was orphaned, he is one of the first converts, he married Fatima, Muhammad's daughter, and she to him who had no son he gave his only two male grandchildren, Hasan and Hussein. "

Apart from considerations about the Caliphate , the Shia recognize the authority of the Imam (also called Hujjat Allah, argument or proof of God) as a religious authority, although the various branches of Shiite Islam are not agreement on the succession of the imam and his successor (the Twelver , Ismaili or Zaydis example).

Origin

On the way back from his farewell pilgrimage, Muhammad halted midway between Mecca and Medina at a place called Ghadir Khumm. There, during a sermon, Muhammad announced his approaching end. In the Hadith, Hadith of Ghadir Khumm said, narrated by Muslim , Muhammad reportedly said he left behind him two important things: the first is God's book (the Quran ) and the second is its offspring.

At his death in 632 , Muhammad was the leader of the Ummah territory became an important state in just a few years. The question of his estate was originally the first great schism of Islam. While Ali and members of the Prophet's family were busy preparing for his funeral, some Ansar, joined by Abu Bakr and 'Umar, met to choose a successor. After a short discussion, a near majority of companions (with the exception of two of them) dsignrent Abu Bakr the first Caliph. Some time later, according to some versions, these two companions, and Ali , came to the mosque where a crowd of companions, headed by Abu Bakr and pledged allegiance to him . But according to Bukhari, Ali did not swear allegiance to the caliph that six months later .

At his death, Abu Bakr decided to appoint his successor. The second caliph - Umar ibn al-Khattab - appointed, in turn, a council of six people (including Ali was one) to choose from among its members the next caliph. Uthman bin Affan , third caliph named, was assassinated in 656, Following a revolt. Ali was then appointed head of the community. Despite his titles and deeds, his caliphate was held in the tumult: a part of the clan of the Umayyads (related to the deceased caliph Utman) and the widow of Mohammed Aisha , Ali demanded the punishment of the murderers of Uthman bin Affan. Ali then led a battle against the army of Aisha, Talha and Zubair ( Battle of the Camel ), then another against Muawiya who was named the Battle of Siffin - on the banks of the Euphrates - in 658. Ali was on the verge of winning when the troops of Muawiya waved sheets of the Koran at the end of their swords and demanded arbitration, Ali accepted despite himself. Some men of Ali - who later became the Kharidjite - revolted, accusing Ali for agreeing to the arbitration procedure they themselves had requested. This revolt was strongly repressed by Ali and the majority of Kharijites died at the Battle of Nahrawan (fr) ; three survivors wanted revenge. One trying to kill Muawiya in vain. Another by attempting to assassinate Amr Ibn al-Ass, but he could not. And the third by assassinating Ali in 661 , with a sword coated with poison while he was praying in the mosque.

This conflict has led to a succession of fundamental split within Islam: on the one hand, the Shia recognize Ali as the first legitimate successor to Muhammad. With two son - Hassan and Hussein - who succeeded him - began to line Shiite imams. On the other, the Sunnis are in majority not only the fourth Caliph Ali. The special doctrinal and theological differences between these two currents are therefore based on a succession dispute. These religious movements have thus built on a base policy.

The Sunni comes from the word sunna , that is to say the tradition of the Prophet, including his words, his acts and practices. They believe that the Koran (the divine word) was created and the universe and history are predetermined. Be more cost Sunni mimetically perpetuate the tradition of Muhammad, through laws and practices of the early caliphs and the companions of the Prophet as a whole, according to this current cycle of prophecy has ended with him. The Shia also claim to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, but they reject the legislation of the early caliphs and some companions, who they say seriously altered the true sunnah of the Prophet, for them it is only through genuinely saved legislation and practice of imams Ali and his descendants. They do not have new revelations, prophecy being closed with Muhammad, but they know and transmit his teachings. This discrepancy is due to a different interpretation of a hadith of the Prophet who called on Muslims to follow his "sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs after him," whereas the Sunnis that this is an invitation to follow the first four caliphs and the companions in their entirety, the Shiite thinking instead that it is the progeny of Imam Ali. The Shiite practice the method of Kalam (deductive reasoning), which emphasizes reasoning, argument, free will and character set of the Koran, the latter being opposite to the Sunni. Shiites believe in the freedom of individual will. The existence depends on the presence of an imam living intercessor between the spiritual and temporal, between Muhammad and the believers. The imam has the knowledge (of the visible and invisible) and infallibility. The Koran has a clear meaning and a hidden meaning that must be studied, and that the imams are responsible for transmitting to the faithful. This emphasis imam has no equivalent in the Sunni and explains the organization, hierarchy and authority of the Shiite clergy (eg, Iran). Shiism waits and prepares for the arrival of the Mahdi , a sort of Messiah "that will fill the earth with justice and fairness as it is currently filled with injustice and tyranny."

On the death of Ali, the Shiites have accepted his son Hasan as the successor to the caliphate. For the Ismailis , Hasan was appointed as temporary Imam (Imam-i `mustawda) while Hussein was indeed permanent Imam (Imam-i mustaqarr). Hassan accepted the caliphate of Muawiyah, lived peacefully in Medina , but he placed the Caliph two conditions: you must obey to make war or peace contract and return the caliphate to the descendants of the Prophet to your death . He sent secret emissaries to negotiate an honorable surrender with Muawiya. The conditions were such that it will succeed Muawiya Hassan after his death. A few years later, Hasan died in 670. The second son of Ali, Imam Hussein broke with the Umayyad dynasty when Muawiya associations to power his son Yazid I. in 678. After all the Ummah with the exception of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and Al Hussein, has pledged allegiance to Yazid, the two dissidents fled to Mecca. Hussein received letters from the Iraqi town of Al Kufa, promising him 18,000 soldiers, Hussein sent his cousin Muslim Ibn Aqeel. Warned by his followers, the deposed governor soft Yazid Al Kufa, Ibn Nuuman Albach, and replaced by his cousin Ibn Ziad UbaidAllah intractable. The latter with 20 policemen and 10 noble besieged in the palace of the governor, managed to break the will of Koufis with promises of money or destruction. The same night, was abandoned by the Muslim Shiites and wandered the streets of Kufa. Humiliated and scared, it will be hosted by an old woman, will be denounced by the son of the latter and executed by UbaidAllah. Meanwhile, determined to reach those promised troops and against the opinion of Ibn Umar called for obedience, Ibn Abbas, in addition to military preparedness, Ibn Zubayr, wanting to keep an ally in Mecca Al Hussein left with 72 men from his family and supporters and his entire extended family (women and children), and he is joined on the road by many Muslims. Learning of the death of Ibn Aqil along the way, Al Hussein informed his companions and continued his expedition with his family and his closest companions, most of those who joined the desert road in . October 10 680 UbaidAllah Ibn Ziad Saad Ibn Umar ordered to attend the meeting of Al Hussein with his army. The junction of the army of 4,000 men (mostly Koufis) and 40 infantry and 32 horsemen Al Hussein will be in Karbala.

Al Hussein gave the choice to Umar ibn Saad to let him go to Mecca or go to war in jihad against the enemies of Islam or to go himself to meet Yazid to work out. For its part, Umar ibn Saad received in response to a formal order of Ubayd Allah, is the lead chained to Damascus to give allegiance to Yazid, or make war against him. The battle lasted one day, full of adventures, narrated by storytellers fervently Shiites. For what is certain is that all men were killed during the battle with 72 persons, with the exception of Ali bin Al Hussein said Zine Al Abidine, himself ill and confined within a tent with her aunts. There are a hagiography, the courage and military prowess of Al Hussein. After half a day of hesitation, where each fighter would not be the one to kill the little son of Muhammad Ibn Al Shamra Jawshan cut off his head. Saad ibn prevented Shamra and Ubaydallah kill Zine Al Abidine, saying he was ill and posed no danger. Women and children were taken to the palace of Yazid in Damascus. Every tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram , Shiites commemorate the defeat by dirges (latmiya) where they beat their chest in mourning, and a minority Doctrines

As Muslim movement, Shiism recognizes the oneness of God, the sacred texts of the Koran , Muhammad, the five obligations core, the Last Judgement and the resurrection.

The Ismaili Nizari have recognized spiritual leader, the Aga Khan VI. The mustaliens obey a da'i representative of Imam obscured. The Twelver recognize in many, called ayatollahs or Marja: Every believer can choose his own, follow his teachings and pay him his tithes (Khum and Zakat ).

Shiism gives special affection martyred Imams Ali, Hasan and Hussein in particular, celebrated the festival of mourning Muharram.

Some Shiites pray by asking their foreheads on the ground of Karbala , or, if they are away on a small flat disc of about 6-8 cm diameter clay of the holy land.

Justice of God

Shias consider Justice as one of the foundations of religion (usul al-din) which are in order of importance: Tawheed (Tawheed), justice (`adl), Prophecy (Nubuwwa) and Imamate. It is part of the divine plan. Proponents of justice, namely the Mu `tazila and Shiites have argued that the intellect (` aql) human plays a role in the choice of our decision. The human intellect, which regardless of any investigation, has an intuitive knowledge of good and evil. We can not attribute evil to God, for he is wise and this attribute is not his nature. Supporters of Justice created a set of rules and it is in these rules they have established the question of coercion (jabr) and free choice (Ikhtiyar), which is one of the toughest issues in Islamic theology .

Cases

Shiites believe the sunnah stems from oral traditions set by Muhammad and their interpretation by the imams - who were the descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima Zahra and her husband Ali was himself the first Imam according to them. .

They attach importance to the interpretation of divine revelation is a continuous process, necessary to comply by the Qur'an. Sunnis also believe they can interpret the Quran and hadith. However they prefer to attach greater importance to scholars such as Ahmed ibn Hanbal, Abu Hanifa, Malik ibn Anas and Ash-Shafi `i. Abu Hanifa and Malik were students sixth Imam Ja'far As Sadiq. Thinkers consider Shiites now that ijtihad is still there, and they can interpret the Qur'an and hadith with the same authority as their predecessors while knowing they are not infallible Imams such.

Religious law (shari'a) is partly based on hadiths and the fact that Shias and Sunnis do not agree on the validity of the same hadiths leading to differences in religious traditions, and thus in the case.

Status of the Shiite Imam

Main article: Imam.

God can not admit that men go to their loss, so they sent the prophets to guide them. But Muhammad's death ends the lineage of the Prophets. You need a guarantor spiritual human conduct, which is proof of the veracity of religion and head of the community. The imam must meet a number of conditions be instructed in the religion, just being free of defects, therefore be the most perfect of his time. His nomination is confirmed by the divine prophet, then by the previous imam.

Unlike Sunnis , Shia, therefore, require that the Muslim community is directed solely by a descendant of the family of Muhammad (Ahl al-Bayt). This claim was originally a political and religious aspect, but over time she assumed a fundamental importance in Shiite theology. The design of the Imamat of Shi'a is fundamentally opposed to that of the caliphate recognized by most Muslims. The Imamate, embodying both the spiritual and temporal power and inaugurated by Ali , is regarded as the succession of the cycle of prophecy finally completed by the last Prophet Muhammad. The imam, who can only be a descendant of Ali , is the Proof of God (Allah Hujjat) on earth, the guardian of the hidden meaning of revelation and is a perfect guide (Ma'sum) for the community.

For Shiites, the Imams are Guides, maintainers of the Book. Their legitimacy is not due to their carnal descent from the Prophet, but to their spiritual heritage, they have a knowledge of the Qur'an by heart, explaining the esoteric ( batin ) to the faithful. Imam derives its authority from God, it's seamless. According to Shiites, the succession is hereditary. But all the trends do not agree on the line of succession.

Divisions and branches

Main article: Divisions of Islam.

Differences about the succession of imams were largely responsible for the outbreak of Shiism into innumerable groups. Three major trends are the essence of the Shiite world today: the Twelver Shia , Shiism septimain, also known as Ismailis and Zaydis.

Twelver Shi'ism

Shiism Twelver Shi'ism is historic: it is the majority in Iraq (which has on its territory several holy towns including Karbala ), in Iran, where Shi'ism is the state religion, and among Muslims in Lebanon. Twelvers depart fundamentally from the Sunni, especially with regard to beliefs, but they were recognized by the Muslim Institute Al-Azhar in Cairo, the most famous Sunni authorities in the world.

For the Twelver, since the occultation (ghayba) of the twelfth Imam, men can not avail himself of another jurisdiction and are therefore free from the temporal power in place. So there is a separation of the spiritual and temporal.

The ulama play an important role in the revolution. The doctrine is not fixed since the twelfth Imam is still alive: despite his physical absence, he informed his community's expression of his will. The interpretation remains open in Shiism and new problems may receive a new solution. According to the criteria of theological knowledge, the `Ulama can interpret the signs of the Imam.

Other community members are satisfied with imitation (taqlid) and a literal reading of the Qur'an. Idealistic vision of the end times, the hidden imam refers to a hidden side of revelation. We must make an effort to find and get to understand the esoteric, beyond what is visible.

Currently the mainstream of Twelver Shiism , the twelfth successor of Mohammed al-Mahdi disappeared in 874 : it is the occultation. This supernatural phenomenon occultation will help put an end to the question of temporal power, and gives a dimension eschatological religious and very strong.

The Twelver now passively accept the political order as the Twelfth Imam will return at the end of time and regain his kingdom. In his expectation, no power is really legitimate, but the believer must await the return of the Imam while making efforts to improve spiritually.

It may be noted that the Iranian revolution of 1979 has partially broken with this expectation by seeking to establish a religious government and politics just before the return of the Imam, which was rejected by certain theological trends of Shiism Twelver.

Related article: Imamate.

Ismaili

Main article: Ismaili.
Related article: Hidden Imams (Ismaili).

Zaydism

The Zaydiyya recognize five imams.

Current Shia minority

Among these trends - including some from the current Ismaili - include the Alawi of Syria , the Alevis of Turkey and the Druze of Syria , of Palestine , from Lebanon and Israel. They are far removed from Islamic orthodoxy, if orthodoxy is defined by what is common to most Muslims, that is to say, the teachings of the Koran and Tradition Mohamdienne, including the five pillars: Certificate of faith, daily prayer (salat), almsgiving legal, the Fast of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

The different streams Shiites

The Shiites themselves are divided into several streams.

Today, Iran is the center of Shi'ism but this stream of Islam is found elsewhere, it is not the Iranian version of Islam. The Shiites are the majority in Iran, Bahrain , Iraq , and they are a minority in a dozen other countries.

  • The Twelver Shi'ism is the majority religion in Iran and Iraq. There are also large minorities Twelver India and Pakistan (about 10% of Muslims), Afghanistan (especially Hazaristan ) in the Arabian Peninsula and in Lebanon , see Khoja ;
  • The Ismailis are very scattered. Their communities of origin are in Pakistan and Syria , but most are a diaspora, especially in the Anglo-Saxon;
  • The Zaydis are mostly found in Yemen ;
  • The Alevi , which are close Alawites are about 25 million in Turkey but do not belong to the Shia branch, they are a mixture of several religions and beliefs that existed before Islam, but they have much in common with the Shia. Groups called Bektashi (in) related to the Alevis are present in the Balkans (especially in Albania ).
  • The Alawite , which are close Alevi constitute 10% of the population in Syria. The family of the Syrian head of state comes from this community. They are also found in northern Lebanon.
  • The Druze , who live primarily in Lebanon (about 8% of the Lebanese) and Syria (about 4% of the Syrians).

The Shiites in the world

Countries with a Muslim population of over 10%
Green Country Sunni , Red: Shia Country, Blue: Ibadite (Oman)

tats dans lesquels les chiites constituent la majorit de la population

tats dans lesquels les chiites constituent la majorit des musulmans mais pas de la population

tats musulmans dans lesquels les chiites sont minoritaires


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