ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books History of Shi'ism: From the Advent of Islam up to the End of Minor Occultation Lesson 22: The Rifts within Shi‘ism There were major rifts within Shi‘ism during the first and second centuries AH, and at the end of the second century remarkable splits among the Shi‘ah had emerged.

As such, members of the different nations and religions, in dealing with Waqifiyyah, have called the Shi‘ah Imamiyyah who believed in the Imamate of Imam ar-Ridha ( ‘a ) as Qat‘iyyah and Ithna ‘Ashariyyah for believing in Imam ar-Ridha ( ‘a ) and the Imams after him up to the Imam of the Time ( ‘a ).[^1] Of course, during the first century AH up to 61 AH (i.e.

up to the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn ( ‘a )) these splits had not occurred within Shi‘ism, although Shahristani regards the Ghulat Saba’iyyah sect that emerged during the time of Hadhrat Amir ( ‘a ) as Shi‘ah.[^2] This is while there is doubt concerning the existence of a person named ‘Abd Allah ibn Saba’.[^3] At any rate, according to Rijal Kashi , there had been some Ghali s during the time of ‘Ali ( ‘a ) who were asked by him to repent, and since they had not repented, he ordered for their execution.[^4] Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ( ‘a ) had excellent positions in the sight of Muslims and have been considered as progeny of the Prophet (S).

Apart from the Shi‘ah, other Muslims also regard them worthy of the caliphate. As such, there was no doubt concerning the matter of the Imamate and no rift whatsoever had ever occurred during the lifetime of these two personages. After Imam al-Husayn’s ( ‘a ) martyrdom, we witness rifts within Shi‘ism, and some of those sects that split from mainstream Shi‘ism are the following: • Kaysaniyyah: They believe in the Imamate of Muhammad al-Hanafiyyah.