The Sh:!

The Sh:!a are those Muslims who follow Amir al-Mo’mineen (Commander of the Believers) Imam !Al: ibn AbY ھ"lib (a.s.) and his pure sons (a.s.) after the Messenger of Alla>h (N); and this is following the order of the Noble Messenger (N) who said before his death: ‘I am soon to be called and will answer, and I am leaving with you the two weighty things (thaqalayn).

As long as you adhere to these two you will never go astray after me ever; the book of Alla>h and my family; the people of my house.’23 The Messenger of Alla>h (N) also said: ‘!Al: is with the truth and the truth is with !Al:.’24 He (N) also said: ‘There will occur dissension after me.

When this happens then align yourselves with !Al: ibn AbY ھ"lib for he is the first who will see me and the first who will shake my hand on the day of resurrection and he will be with me in the highest heaven and he is the criterion (al-f"rYq) between truth and falsehood.’25 He (N) also said: ‘There will occur dissension after me.

When this happens then align yourselves with !Al: ibn AbY ھ"lib for he is the criterion (al-f"rYq) between truth and falsehood.’26 He (N) also said: ‘Amongst the people there will occur schism and difference but this man (meaning !Al: [a.s.]) and his companions are in the right.’27 The Sh:!a are also named the ‘Imamites (im"m:yah)’ as they believe in the imamate of !Al:, Amir al-Mo’mineen (Commander of the Believers), and his eleven sons and grandsons (a.s.).

They are also named the ‘Ja!farites (ja!far:yah)’ since they follow the Imams of the people of the prophet’s house (the ) in matters of what is lawful and unlawful since these Imams are most knowledgeable of the book of Alla>h and what the Messenger of Alla>h (N) said. The sixth of these Imams is Ja!far ibn Mu9ammad (known as ‘al-£"diq’, ‘the truthful’).

He was able to propagate Islamic teachings – the fundamentals (os}ool al-deen), branches (furu‘ al-deen), etiquettes (adab) and ethics (akhla>q) - in a more comprehensive and complete manner, something which conditions did not permit the rest of the Imams to do in such a complete way. The Sh:!a took from Imam Ja!far most of the features of their religion and for this reason they are related to him.

The other Imams did not have as much opportunity to do this as they met with troubles as in the time of !Al: and his sons .asan and .usayn (a.s.), or with oppression and terror from the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphs.