ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Shi'ism and Its Types During the Early Centuries Introduction This is the first part, entitled "Gunneh-ha-ye mukhtalif-a Tashayyu'wa awamil-e gustarish-e an," from the author's study on the history of Shiism in Iran until the Safavid era, Ta'rikh-a Tashayyu' dar iran, az aghaz ta qarn-e dahum-e hijri (Qum: Intisharat-a Ansariyan, 1375/ [^1996])Preface: The literal meaning of shi 'ah is follower and supporter, and only when accompanied by a qualifier that does it signify the followers of a certain person.

During the days when the word was used only in its common literal sense it was usually used along with the names of Ali (a), 'Uthman or Mu'awiyah. Hence there would be the "shi'ah of Ali," the "shi'ah of Uthman" and the "shiah of Mu'awiyah." After some time the word shi'ah came to be used specifically as a term for the followers of Imam Ali ( a) and during this period the article "al' in the word "al-shiah" clearly denoted the followers of the ('a).

It is difficult to determine the exact time since when the term al-shi'ah acquired currency as a name for the followers of Imam Ali ('a). [^1] Perhaps the letter written, on the occasion martyrdom of Imam Hasan ('a), by the Shi'is of Kufah under the lead of Sulayman ibn Surad as a message of condolence to Imam Husayn ('a) is the earliest documented instance of its use as a term. Ya'qubi has cited the text of this letter.

In it the Sh'is of Kufah wrote: How great is [the calamity] which has struck this ummah in general ('ammah), you, and the Shi'ah in particular (khassah)! [^2] Here, one may as well note the use of the word 'ammah as a kind of term used in opposition to khassah as the term for the Shi'ah. Another point which is important for understanding the development of the term shi'ah is to know whom it excluded. In other words, who were those who stood in contradistinction to the Shiah of Ali.

There is indisputable evidence provided by older and recent research that there existed two distinct factions during the era of the Messenger of God (s). The first consisted of the Quraysh who were not on good terms with the Banu Hashim since before the advent of Islam. The second faction was that of the supporters of Ali consisting of the Hashimis and their supporters from among the Muhajirin and the Ansar, such as Abu Dharr, Ammar, Miqdad and Salman.

Al-Farsi concedes the existence of these two factions before the episode of Saqifah.