26 special books have been compiled by Shia and Sunni...

26 special books have been compiled by Shia and Sunni scholars on this tradition only. When we see that between these two events, the Prophet repeatedly referred to the followers of Ali as Shia, we come to the conclusion that not only the faith of Shi'ism, but the name also was originated by the Prophet himself.

Allama Ibn Hajar Makki, in his book As Sawai-qul-Muhriqua, and Ibn Athir in his book Nihaya, say that Prophet said : "O Ali, verily thou wilt come before Allah, thou and thy Shias, happily and God will be happy with you." As-Suyuti says in his Tafseer 'Ad-Dur-rul-manthur': "The Prophet said, pointing towards Ali: 'He and his Shias are those who will be successful in Quiyamat." (Appendix 'B') SECTS OF ISLAM There is no difference of opinion amongst Muslim sects that the 'religion' of God is Islam; that the only way to know Islam is through the Book of God and the Sunnah of the Prophet; that the Book of God is what is known as Qur'an, without any addition or substraction.

And what difference is there, is in the interpretation of some of the verses of Qur'an; and in believing or not believing some of the Sunnah as genuine; or in its interpretation. This difference of approach has led towards the difference in some beliefs and some laws of Sheriat. As the basic principles of Islam are well-known, I do not think it necessary to enumerate all the beliefs.

All the Muslims agree that Allah is one; Muhammad is His last Prophet and that one day Allah will resurrect all the human beings and all will be questioned about their beliefs and actions. All of them agree that anyone not believing in any of the above 3 basic principles is not a Muslim.

Also, they agree that anybody denying the famous tenets of Islam, like Prayers, Fasting, Hajj, Zakat etc., or believing that the well-known sins, like drinking wine, adultery, stealing, gambling, lie, murder etc., are not sins, is not a Muslim, though he might be believing in Allah and His , because to deny such well-known Islamic tenets is tantamount to denying the Prophethood of Muhammad and his Sheriat.

When we go further, we come across those subjects which are not agreed amongst the Muslims, and there the differences between different sects of Islam begin. PERSON OF GOD: Sunnis say that Allah has body, not like the bodies we know. There is a vast material which can be quoted here describing that belief.