In this age...

In this age, where we happen to be, whosoever says, "Ali is the immediate successor of our Prophet", we readily declare him to be a Shiah expecting nothing more from him. Let him belong to any denomination or to any way of thinking. But if we go to the period of advent of Islam, we come across a distinct spirit that happens to be the soul of Shiaism. They were the minds capable of faithfully, accepting the behest of the Prophet about Ali and did not suffer from any disbelief or distrust.

The opposite of this spirit and this way of thinking has been another mentality and school of thought who with all the completeness of faith, which they had in the Prophet, accepted the behests with a sort of reservation and with such interpretation and construction as were never intended. ( 113 ) In fact schisms and divisions in Islam originated from here. One schism was in majority. They were shallow and looked only to the surface.

Their vision was neither sharp nor deep so as to discern the implications and the consequences of every event. They looked to the surface and attached presumption of correctness to it.

They used to say, "A number of elderly companions (of Prophet), the veterans and the seniors in Islam have followed this course; therefore, it cannot be said that they have erred." But the other group who were in minority would at the same time say, "Personalities are held in esteem by us only when they themselves show respect to the truth. However, if we find that Islamic principles are being violated by the veterans, they cease to enjoy respect (with us).

We uphold principles and not the personalities". Shiaism emerged with this spirit. When we go through Islamic history in search of Salman-i-Farsi, Abu Zar Ghifari, Miqdad Kindi, Ammar-i-Yasir and the likes, we wish to know what were the factors which persuaded them to take Ali's side and to ignore the majority? We will find them to be men of principles, and the men aware of principles. They were Faithful and knew what was the Faith.

They would say, "We should not hand our intellect and wisdom over to other because there is apprehension of our erring when he errs". Checked 02-01-01 page on book 60 In fact, their's was a mind ruled by facts and principles and not by persons and personalities. ( 114 ) One of the Amir-ul-Momineen's (Ali's) companions, during the battle of Jamal, fell in serious doubt. He looked to both the sides.