ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Peshawar Nights Second Session, Friday night, 20th Rajab, 1345 A.H. Hafiz: I was greatly impressed by your instructive conversation concerning your ancestral lineage. I admit that you are a descendant of the Holy Prophet but, I wonder how a man of your learning could be under the degrading influence of the enemies. Having left the ways of your illustrious ancestors, you have adopted the ways of the unbelievers of Iran.

What I mean by the foolish ways of the enemies are those innovations which have entered Islam through the Israelites. Well-Wisher: Kindly explain what you mean. Misconception about origin of the ‘Shi’as’ sect Hafiz: The Israelites' whole history is stained with deceit. Abdullah Ibn Saba' San'a'i, Ka'abu'l-Ahbar, Wahhab Ibn Munabba, and others professed Islam, and pretended to accept the ‘hadith’ of the Holy Prophet and thus, created confusion among the Muslims.

The third caliph, Uthman Ibn Affan, pursued them, and they fled to Egypt, where they established a sect known as the ‘Shi’as’. They spread false reports about Caliph Uthman, and fabricated ‘hadith’ to the effect that the Holy Prophet had appointed ‘Ali as caliph, and Imam. With the formation of this sect, there was widespread violence, which led to the murder of Caliph Uthman, and the assumption of the caliphate by ‘Ali. A group inimical to Uthman stood high in ‘Ali's favor.

During the caliphate of the Umayyads, when the people of the family of ‘Ali and his adherents were being killed, this group went into hiding. Still, some people, like Salman al-Farsi, Abu Dharr Ghifari, and Ammar Yasir, supported the cause of ‘Ali. This struggle continued until the time of Harun ar-Rashid, and especially his son, Ma'mun ar-Rashid Abbasi, who subdued his brother with the help of the Iranians, and they then spread the idea that ‘Ali was preferable to other caliphs.

The Iranians, hostile to the Arabs who had conquered them, found an opportunity to challenge the Arabs in the name of religion. The ‘Shi’as’ became powerful during the period of the Dailamites and the Safavid Kings, and were finally recognized. They were then formally known as the ‘Shi’as’ sect. Iranian ‘Zoroastrians still call themselves Shi’as. In short, the ‘Shi’as’ sect was founded by a Jew, Abdullah Ibn Saba. Otherwise, there would have been no such word as ‘Shi’as’ in Islam.

Your grandfather, the Holy Prophet, hated the word. In fact, the ‘Shi’as’ sect is a part of the Jewish faith.