ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Shi'ite Encyclopedia (chapter 2-3) The Major Difference Between the Shia and the Sunni There is not a basic difference between the Shi'ites and Sunnites concerning articles of the Faith of Islam. There is, however, a disagreement between the two schools in the following two areas: The Caliphate (successorship/leadership) which the Shia believe it is the right of the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt.

The Islamic rule when there is no clear Quranic statement, nor is there a Hadith upon which Muslim schools have agreed. The second issue has root into the first one. The Shia bound themselves to refer to Ahlul-Bayt for deriving the Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH&HF). They do this in conformity with the order of Prophet reported in the authentic Sunni and Shi'i collections of traditions beside what the Quran attests to their perfect purity.

The disagreement about the caliphate should not be a source of division between the two schools. Muslims agree that the caliphate of Abu Bakr came through election by a limited number of people and was a surprise for all other companions. By limited number, I mean, the majority of the prominent companions of prophet had no knowledge of this election.

Ali, Ibn Abbas, Uthman, Talha, Zubair, Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas, Salman al-Farsi, Abu Dhar, Ammar Ibn Yasir, Miqdad, Abdurrahman Ibn Owf were among those who were not consulted nor even informed of. Even Umar confessed to the fact that the election of Abu Bakr was without consultation of Muslims. (See sahih al- Bukhari, Arabic-English, Tradition 8.817) On the other hand, election implies choice and freedom, and that every Muslim has the right to elect the nominee.

Whoever refuses to elect him does not oppose God or His Messenger because neither God nor His Messenger appointed the nominated person by people. Election, by its nature, does not compel any Muslim to elect a specific nominee. Otherwise, the election would be coercion. This means that the election would lose its own nature and it would be a dictatorial operation.

It is well known that the Prophet said: "There is no validity for any allegiance given by force." Imam Ali refused to give his allegiance to Abu Bakr for six months. He gave his allegiance to Abu Bakr only after the martyrdom of his wife Fatimah al-Zahra, Daughter of the Holy Prophet, six month after the departure of Prophet. (see Sahih al-Bukhari, Arabic-English version, Tradition 5.546).