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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Victim Lost in Saqifah 1-4 Second Alteration Removing Imamate From Principles of Faith and Making It a Fundamental of School Introduction Pay attention to this objection: “…Difference in Imamate is not a difference in principle of faith. Since our childhood, we are taught that principles of faith are three and fundamentals of school are two. Principles of faith are separate from fundamentals of school.”!

[1] One of the mode of dividing which has no root in Islamic teachings but today it is commonly used – separation of arguments of belief in principles of faith and fundamentals of school or in terms of unity-seekers – separation in real issues (common ones) and the side ones (i.e. those of Ijtihaad ). It so seems that this way of dividing might have originated in thought of Islamic unity. Or it should have much utility and usefulness in this path.

Depending on this order discussion of Imamate has been discarded from comprising main and basic issues of Islam while, on the other hand the subject of Imamate constitutes the ground for difference between two schools – that of the Prophet’s House and that of Caliphs. It is brought down to a side matter. Therefore the different views in this regard become Ijtihaad s, i.e. personal opinions based on personal conclusions.

As such, it is by itself in the margin – not in the contents, beyond frontiers of principle which are common among Islamic sects. So it is said: “Islamic Caliphate comes among common principles because it carries rulership. Therefore politics is among pillars of Islam. As a result there needs to be an executive or administrator.

But the discussion takes a detailed length to the effect to make it a branch subject not to be treated as incoherent with the principle… For instance, Shia and Sunni differ from each other on application of the term. They had disputes on this issue as to whom should be applied the [1] Muhammad Waizzaada Khorasani: Payaam-e-Wahdat (Message of Unity), Pg. 258 term of Caliph. This shows real Caliphate and politics as an entity that stands by itself.

It is an outstanding issue; an element of its own independent base. Strange it is that who should take charge of Caliphate must be a side discussion, a branch argument!” [1] “Some narrations about Guardianship are in the same trend and sense which are particular to Shia. Yet, Guardianship in that sense becomes a side matter pertaining to belief.”!