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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books History of Shi'ism: From the Advent of Islam up to the End of Minor Occultation Lesson 4: The Origin of Shi‘ism Diverse views have been expressed with respect to the origin and beginning of Shi‘ism, but in general, these views can be divided into two: 1. The writers and researchers who believe Shi‘ism was created after the demise of the Prophet (S) and who themselves can be subdivided into the following subgroups: a.

Those who believe that Shi‘ism has come into being during the day of Saqifah—that day when a group of prominent explicitly said: “‘Ali is the most deserving one to the office of Imamate { imamah } and caliphate { khilafah }.”[^1] b. Those who regard the emergence of the Shi‘ah as being related to the latter part of Uthman’s caliphate, connecting the spread of the views of ‘Abd Allah ibn Saba’ at this period with the beginning of Shi‘ism.[^2] c.

Those who believe that the Shi‘ah has come into being on the day of Fitnah ad-Dar (the day when the third caliph was murdered). Thereafter, accordingly, the followers of ‘Ali ( ‘a ) who were the very Shi‘ah who confronted the so-called “‘Uthmanis”, those who were avenging the murder of ‘Uthman.

As Ibn an-Nadim thus writes: When Talhah and Zubayr opposed ‘Ali and nothing could convince them but to take revenge for the murder of ‘Uthman, while ‘Ali also wanted to fight them so as to establish the truth, on that day those who followed him were called “Shi‘ah” and he himself thus described them: “They are my Shi‘ah”.[^3] Ibn ‘Abd ar-Rabbih al-Andalusi also says: “The Shi‘ah are those who regarded ‘Ali as superior to ‘Uthman.”[^4] d.

Those who believe that Shi‘ism had come into existence from the coming into power, up to the martyrdom of ‘Ali ( ‘a ).[^5] e. Those who link the origin of Shi‘ism with the event at Karbala’ and the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn ( ‘a ).[^6] 2. The researchers who are of the opinion that Shi‘ism can be traced back to the period of the Messenger of Allah ( ‘a ).