Having given it more thought, I will be writing another opinion, a 'corrected position', soon. I think the position should be more inclusive.
Update 2: Here's the corrected position: The Amman Message (Link here)
Introduction
While Malaysians get caught up in the
politicisation of the ‘Mat Sabu is a Shia’ debacle, it might be a good time to
take a step back and ask ‘Why the Shias?’ The sensible answer might indicate
that (i) any religious issue is a hot button issue in Malaysia; and (ii) what
better way to shake the credibility of PAS and the Pakatan Rakyat coalition?
Though the jury is still out as to the
effectiveness of these attacks (probably not very), the bigger picture should
not be missed: What is it about the Shias that gets some of us so riled up?
Politics aside, there are inherent and
fundamental differences between Syiah and Sunni Islam which has prompted many
observers, intellectuals and social commentators alike, to declare that Shias are not Muslims. While Shias claim the
contrary, it is this author’s opinion that the fundamental differences between the
belief system and practice of Syiah ‘Islam’ and Sunni Islam would in fact
render the former, non-Islamic.
Why didn’t Islam call itself
‘Christianity Part II’ or ‘Judaism’ or something of that sort? This is probably
because the belief system and practice of Islam differed from the Christianity
and Judaism. Would it be possible for the same to be applied on the Syiahs?
This author says yes.
In the paragraphs to follow, this
author intends to look at 2 of the important
pillars of the Islamic faith, namely the Shahadah and the 5 daily
prayers and compare and contrast the belief and practice system of Sunni
Muslims with that of the Shias. Why just the 2? Because they are able to show delineation
in the belief system between the Sunnis and Shias that would be enough to
constitute different religions.
The conclusions that
will be reached are: (i) the Shia faith system does not fall in line with the Islamic
pillars (and thus are not "Muslims" as understood by a majority of Muslims); and (ii) Shias should stop trying so hard
to brand themselves as Muslims but instead declare that they are a different
religion (but who worship the same God- like the Christians)[1].
On a related
note, this author believes that Shias and Sunnis should learn to get along.
There’s enough fighting, and this article is written in no way to ostracize the
Shias. This author feels that a name change would do well towards a more
peaceful coexistence.
The Pillars of Islam: General
According to Sunni Islam and all the
schools of thought and jurisprudence therein (i.e. the Mazhabs), the following
5 pillars are fundamental to the religion[2]
and form the basic tenets of faith and obligations upon every Muslim[3].
These pillars are:
(i)
declaring the Shahadah;
(ii)
establishing five daily prayers;
(iii)
fasting in Ramadhan;
(iv)
the paying of Zakah; and
(v)
the performance of the pilgrimage in Mecca.
The Shias accept the 5 items above,
but do not deem them as pillars of the religion but mere obligations[4].
Nevertheless, even within that narrow acknowledgement (which already indicates
the non-Islamic nature of the faith), it is the practice and belief systems
which form the larger Syiah faith that takes them out of the ambit of the 5
pillars. This goes beyond mere interpretation[5].
Pillar 1: The Shahadah
The Shahadah is the proclamation or
declaration by a Muslim to the faith of Allah. The declaration begins with
“There is no god but Allah” and is followed by “Muhammad is the messenger of
Allah”. The first part of the declaration is to signify the concept of Towheed
or oneness of Allah whereas the second is an acknowledgement that Prophet
Muhammad is THE bringer of
Allah’s message to mankind.
For Sunni Muslims, the recitation of
the Shahadah is understood as above. It is sacred for it signifies a wilful
submission to the faith.
For Shias, there is an added element
to the Shahadah. At the end, they add the phrase: “and Ali is the friend of
God”[6].
This is because Shias passionately attest to Ali being the successor of
Muhammad[7].
So, why this is considered a
fundamental deviation?
Firstly, the problem by adding an
additional phrase to the Shahadah is that it is akin to changing the oath that all
Muslims take when attesting their submission to Islam. The Shahadah is accepted
and jealously protected by all Sunni Islam schools of thought because it is what
makes a Muslim, a Muslim.
Secondly, the Shias believe that Ali
is infallible, sinless and a divinely appointed successor of Muhammad[8].
The problem here is firstly that Muhammad is the final prophet of Allah and
that there would be no one else ‘divinely appointed’ after him[9].
In fact, Prophet Muhammad refrained from choosing a successor to enable the
Companions to decide. In what turned out to be a mini-platform for democracy,
Saidina Abu Bakar was chosen and delivered a speech that is inspiring even
today[10].
Secondly, being infallibility and sinless are traits are only reserved for the
Prophets of Allah (including those before Muhammad). But even then, it is not
absolute. Such a trait is known as “ma’soom”. The trait of ma’soom provided
that the Prophets were only protected from major sins. Prophet Muhammad many a
times committed mistakes which he himself[11]
or Allah subsequently corrected[12].
To say that Ali is sinless and infallible goes beyond the teachings of Allah
and the Prophet Muhammad. Shias also endow their Imams with infallibility
within their interpretation of the Quran[13].
To Sunni Muslims, this is something that’s contradictory with the religion and
is non-Islamic.
Thirdly, Shias attribute Ali to having
performed miracles in his lifetime, something which Muslims believe were
limited to certain prophets (like Jesus – walking on water; Moses – the
splitting of the red sea; Abraham – survived being thrown into fire; and
Muhammad – riding into heaven on lailatul Qadr’). Interpretations of the Quran
and Hadiths aside (including allegations fabricated texts and so forth), if Shias
truly believe in this (which the Sunni Muslims unanimously don’t), it only
means that they have a different ‘truth’ from that of the Sunni Muslims. It’s a
different worldview of the truth. They should be their own people. Not Muslims.
See what this is getting at?
Fourth, and just to emphasize, most Shias
revere Ali more than they do Muhammad. Reverence per se isn’t bad. But when
that reverence goes towards denouncing Muhammad’s status in Islam and
equivocating it with Ali’s; when reverence goes towards denouncing the other
rightly guided caliphs (Abu Bakar, Umar and Uthman); and denial of historical
events pertinent to Islam’s history, then there must be something non-Islamic
about it there, especially when ever other Sunni Muslim accepts it (estimated
to be about 75-80% of the global Muslim population).
Simply put, the dichotomy of one of
the most fundamental elements of the faith is evident. One is either a Muslim
who affirms the oneness of Allah and the status of Muhammad or isn’t a Muslim. The
duality of ‘realities’ makes not good bedfellows.
Pillar 2: The Five Daily Prayers
In the Quran[14],
and based on the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad[15],
Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day. What separates Islam from other
religions is the prayer. It’s importance in the faith cannot be stressed
enough.
Sunni Muslims accept that the Quran
makes references to the need to establish prayer[16][17],
the number of prayers to be performed daily, and this is complemented by the
various Hadith in relation to establishing the 5 daily prayers. It is also
accepted that the Quran does not mention how one is to pray, but nevertheless
it is accepted that the Hadith offers guidance on this. Thus, while there are
some differences in the way Sunni Muslims pray such differences are very small
and do not detract from the general movements a Muslims observes when praying.
Shias only pray 3 times a day –
morning, lunchtime and at sunset. They do not perform Friday prayers (Solatul
Jumaah) because they do not believe in it, despite the explicit command by
Allah to do so[18]
and the various reminders and commands in the Hadith[19][20].
Some say that Shias do in fact believe in the 5 daily prayers but prefer to
combine their prayers (though this is a minority Shia view). Yes, Sunni Muslims
combine prayers too, but these are exceptional situations requiring certain
conditions to be met. It’s not the same.
In respect of the manner of prayer, Shias
would place a stone at the front of their prayer mat and prostrate on the stone
during prayer. This stone is usually from Karbala (where Hussein, Ali’s son is
buried). The rationale appears to be firstly, that a stone is a natural element
from the earth (unlike a carpet, or prayer mat or house floor) and is the more
‘natural’ way to perform prayer; and secondly, that it is compulsory to use the
stone from Karbala which is more blessed than normal stones. Unfortunately, this
practice and belief is contrary to Islamic teachings[21].
Prophet Muhammad had said that the entire world can be a prayer mat (except
graveyards and the bathroom) and Muslims are reminded of this to emphasise the
important of prayer. To require a stone is not only unusually, but goes against
the hadith in that one need not place his or her head on an object to pray to
Allah.
Earlier it was mentioned that there
are differences in the movements of Sunni Muslims. While this may appear to
make the practice of prayer ‘inconsistent’ unlike the Shias who claim to have
just 1 method, nevertheless it should be understood that the differences in the
movements of Sunni Muslims are consistent with the Hadith and the Quran. An
analogous example would be that of ablution (the washing ritual in preparation
of prayer). According to jurist Imam
Shafie, when a Muslim takes ablution it is sufficient that only 3 strands of
hair are wet or if bald, as long as any part of the bald head is made wet
whereas according to jurist Imam Maliki, it is necessary for the entire head to
be wetted. The difference of movement does not go to the heart of the religion,
but on matters of which Allah has allowed flexibility[22][23].
This is not the case of the Shias beliefs.
Based on the above, it would be
difficult to defend the position of Shias in their claim that their Islam is
the consistent with the Quran or the Hadith, in relation to this 2nd
Pillar of Islam.
The
3 Remaining Pillars
In respect of the 3 remaining pillars,
there are certainly differences between Sunni Muslims and the Shias.
For instance, in respect of fasting,
Shias break fast at different times from Sunni Muslims. The method of
calculation and determining the time to break fast differs. This said, even
amongst Sunni Muslims the timings may differ, albeit the method and the Quranic
and hadith sources used are similar.
In respect of the payment of zakah, or
alms tax, the practice of the payment of Zakah in Sunni Islam and the Shia
faith is generally quite similar with some differences. In Sunni Islam, the amount
traditionally set is around 2.5% of the value of all liquid assets and
income-generating properties owned. It is based on total wealth and akin to
property tax. More items are covered under Sunni Islam’s zakah than in the
Syiah faith. As for Shias, the amount is around 5%, and it is more akin to
income tax. It is part of ‘khums’ or ‘fifth’ (which in total is about 20%).
Unlike Sunni Islam, Zakah for Shias are more limited[24].
For Sunni Muslims, Zakah acts as a reminder
of one’s broader social responsibilities to the community[25].
For Shias, the focus tends to be more personal. Zakah is paid in a limited
quantity and subject to different conditions. In Sunni Islam, zakah may be
ordered in the event of a famine. In the Shia faith, there can be no additional
zakah levied under any circumstances[26].
In previous-era Arabia, Shias were a present fixture in the daily
social-economico-politico landscape and contributed to the tax and rakah regime
(in their own way). But their zakah were separated from Sunni Muslim zakah
because they were not considered as Muslims. This practice was accepted in
Pakistan.
As for performing the Hajj in Mecca,
the general position is that only Muslims can perform Hajj (or even enter Mecca
for that fact). In practice, Shias are allowed into Saudi Arabia to perform
Hajj. The Saudi government has a policy of tolerance, though there isn’t
official acknowledge or acceptance of the Syiah following (the political
relationship between the Saudi and Iranian governments, for instance, are
telling).
Conclusion
The Shia faith is not ‘Islam’. It is a
faith that resembles Islam but is different on many levels. Nevertheless, modern society (and many
Muslims) accepts that both as ‘Muslims’[27].
Perhaps Shia followers should start
calling themselves by a different name, just like how Islam opted not to call
itself ‘Christianity’ when it was revealed by Allah. There are many
similarities between Christians and Muslims, similar to Islam and the Shia
faith, but to share a similar name is misguided.
Shias are not bad people and there are
many misconceptions about them[28].
By stating the facts above, it is hoped that clarity can be brought. The
footnotes referenced below are additional sources that should give a more
holistic perspective to this issue.
I end by stating that this article is
meant to enlighten. The language used may have been strong. But it was done to
emphasise the message. In no way does the author advocate violence or
persecution against Shias. We need all religions to be peaceful towards each
other.
We just feel that Shias should rename
themselves to something else.
[1] http://www.diffen.com/difference/Shia_vs_Sunni
[2] http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1859?_hi=17&_pos=3
[3] http://www.naseeb.com/journals/sunni-v-shias-5-pillars-176178
[4] http://www.naseeb.com/journals/sunni-v-shias-5-pillars-176178
- Syiah’s have their own ‘5 Pillars’. They are (i) the Oneness of God (similar
to the Islamic concept of Tawheed); (ii) The Justice of God (‘adl); (iii)
Prophethood (nubuwwah) (all of which so far are concepts within Islam); (iv)
the Leadership of Mankind (imamah) (Sunni Islam believes in Khalifahtullah –
vicegerents of Allah on this earth – it is
a concept that recognizes Allah’s superiority above man and that
everything done is to His command and with His mercy); and (v) the Resurrection
(me’ad) (which is similar to the concept of Qiamat in Sunni Islam but with
difference in the nature in which man will be raised)
[5] http://www.discoveringislam.org/sunnis_vs_shia.htm
[6] http://www.gotquestions.org/Shia-Sunni-Islam.html
[7] Supra
[8] http://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia-ahlul-bayt-dilp-team/prophet-announcing-his-successor-his-first-preach
[9] Quran Chapter 33,
Verse 40.
[10]
O People! I have been
put in authority over you and I am not the best of you. So if I do the right
thing then help me and if I do wrong then put me straight. Truthfulness is a
sacred trust and lying is a betrayal. The weak amongst you is strong in my sight.
I will surely try to remove his pain and suffering. And the strong amongst you
is weak to me I will – Allah willing – realise the right from him fully. When
obscene things spread among any nation, calamities generally continued to
descend upon them. As long as I obey Allah and His messenger, you should obey
me, and if I do not obey Allah and His messenger, then obedience to me is not
incumbent upon you. (Now prepare for prayer).
[11] Once Prophet Muhammad came across some people doing artificial
pollination of palm trees. Due to some reason he disliked the idea and
commented that it would be better not to do any pollination at all. However for
the following year the harvest was poor. When he came to know about this
Prophet Muhammad admitted his limitation of knowledge regarding secular affairs
and said: “If a question relates to your worldly matters, you would know better
about it, but if it relates to your religion, then to me it belongs.” (Musnad
Ahmad, hadith no. 12086; and Sunan Ibn Maja, hadith no. 2462)
[12] http://www.questionsonislam.com/node/12936
[13] Supra
[14] Such as Chapter 23 verses 1-4; Chapter 13 verse 15; Chapter 24 verse 58; and Chapter 2 Verse 238.
[15] http://www.hadithcollection.com/sahihbukhari/41-sahih-bukhari-book-08-prayers-salat/1035-sahih-bukhari-volume-001-book-008-hadith-number-345.html
[16] http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090412213438AAB5KhR
[17] http://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/928/where-does-the-idea-of-prayer-5-times-a-day-come-from
[18] Quran, Chapter 62
verse 9
[19] Abu Huraira Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that the Prophet Sallallahu
‘alaihi wasallam said: “The five daily Salaat, one Jummah Salaah till the next Jummah Salaah and one Ramadhan
till the next Ramadhan are all expiations for the time between them provided
that major sins are abstained from.” (Sahih Muslim)
[20] http://www.islamhadith.com/the-day-of-jummah/
[21] http://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/934/why-shia-muslims-use-a-stone-for-saying-prayers-but-sunni-muslims-dont
[22] http://www.sunnah.org/msaec/articles/madhhab_issues.htm
[23] http://www.niu.edu/phil/~kapitan/pdf/ReasonandFlexibilityinIslam.pdf
- an enlightening article about the flexibility of Islam and the Quran which
cannot always be taken literally. The Quran is a magnificent book and there is
a science and art that comes together in order to understand it. The Quran was
revealed poetically and it was its poetic nature that attracted the hearts and
minds of the Jahiliyyah-era Arabs (who were then the worst of beings).
[25] http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1859?_hi=17&_pos=3
[26] http://www.islamic-laws.com/pdf/ZAKAT_IN_SHIA_FIQH.pdf
[27] http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-the-differences-between-the-sunni-and-shia-sects-of-islam.htm#slideshow
[28] http://www.ezsoftech.com/akram/shiasunniunity.asp
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