Shī'ah Beliefs

Compiled by Malik Muhammad Is'haq (Sipahe Sahabah RA, Pakistan)

[The Shī'ah Belief Concerning Taqiyyah|The Shī'ah Belief Regarding Imāmah]

[Shī'ah Theories Concerning The Mahdi|The Shī'ah Belief Concerning Raj'ah]

The Shī'ah Belief Concerning Taqiyyah

The Shī'ah believe in a doctrine called Taqiyyah which means that a person holds a specific belief in his heart but his speech is contrary to his inner beliefs and it is through this that they deceive the Ahlus Sunnah. They claim to believe in the Qur'ān and in the Sahabah Radhiallahu anha whereas this is not their belief. They accuse Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and the Ahle Bayt of this as well. They write many virtues of Taqiyyah so that they can use this weapon to the utmost. The following references concerning Taqiyyah are established strictly from Shī'ah literature:

1. From 10 parts of Dīn, 9 portions depend upon Taqiyyah.

(Usūlul Kafi- Part 2 - Kitābul Imān wal Kufr, Bābut Taqiyyah, line 5, Riwāyah 2, New Iranian edition, Page 217)

2. The Imām mentioned that the most beloved thing on the surface of the earth is Taqiyyah.

(Usūlul Kafi, Part 2, Kitābul Imān wal Kufr, Bābut Taqiyyah, line 12, Riwāyah 4, Page 217, New Iranian edition.)

3. The Imām has mentioned that Taqiyyah is the coolness of his eyes.

(Usūlul Kafi, Part 2, Kitābul Imān wal Kufr, Bābut Taqiyyah, line 1, Riwāyah 14, Page 217, New Iranian edition.)

4. He who conceals the Dīn, Allah has granted him respect And he who exposes it, Allah has disgraced him.

(Usūlul Kafi, Part 2, Kitābul Imān wal Kufr, Bābul Kitmān, line 5, Riwāyah 3, Page 222, New Iranian edition.)

5. The Imām has mentioned that Taqiyyah is the religion of my forefathers. He who exposes our religion will be disgraced in this world and in the hereafter by Allah and he who conceals it will be granted respect by Allah.

(Usūlul Kafi, Part 2, Kitābul Imān wal Kufr, Bābul Kitmān, line 20, Riwāyah 8, page 223, New Iranian edition.)

6. He who does not act upon Taqiyyah is void of faith.

(Tafsīr-e-Sāfi, Part 1, Faiz Kāshāni, Page 253, New Tehran Edition.)

7. The Imām has mentioned that Taqiyyah is my religion and the religion of my forefathers.

(Tafsīr-e-Safi, Part 2, Faiz Kāshāni, line 7, page 482, New Tehran edition.)

8. It is permissible to join the gatherings of the nāsibis (non Shī'ah) by acting upon Taqiyyah.

(Āthāre Haidari Urdu, (Tafsīr Hasan Askari) by Shareef Husain, line 15, page 500, Imāmiyah Kutub Khānah Edition, Lahore)

9. A Shī'ah, acting upon Taqiyyah, performed salāh behind a hypocrite (Sunni) Imām upon which the Imām commented that the angels of the seven planets and skies are sending salutations upon you and curses upon the Imām behind whom you performed salāh. A reward of 700 salāh will be recorded for the one salāh which you performed through Taqiyyah.

(Āthāre Haidari Urdu [Tafsīr Hasan Askari] by Shareef Husain, line 1, page 516)

10. Taqiyyah is the best among all good deeds.

(Ibid)

11. A Shī'ah said concerning Hadrat Abubakr Radhiallahu anhu that he was the Imām. In reply to this, Imām Ali Naqi (Rahmatullāh alaih) commented that I have made you my companion in the exalted stages of Jannah on account of your excellent Taqiyyah.

(Ibid)

12. Taqiyyah is a distinguishing factor between a Shī'ah and a Sunni.

(Ibid)

13. One who abstains from Taqiyyah has committed an unforgivable sin.

(Ibid)

14. Imām Ja'far Sādiq has mentioned that he who spreads any of our matters has deliberately destroyed us.

(Jāmi'ul Akhbār Abu Ja'far Saduq, page 95, Jāmi'ul Muntazir Edition, Lahore.)

15. It is permissible to conceal one's Imān till the last breath just as Abu Tālib had done.

(Ibid)

16. If a Shī'ah performs salāh behind a hypocrite (Sunni) by way of Taqiyyah, it is as if he has performed salāh behind an Imām from the Ahle Bayt.

(Ibid)

17. Whilst acting upon Taqiyyah, it is permissible to fold the hands and perform salāh.

(Tahrīrul Waseelah by Khomeini, part1, page 186, Kitābus Salāh, New Qum Edition)

18. Three people questioned Imām Bāqir about a mas'alah and the Imām replied to each person differently acting upon Taqiyyah and he said that if any person hears from us such a thing which is against the law of Allah then he should remember that we have acted upon Taqiyyah.

(Ash Shāfi [Translation of Usūlul Kāfi by Zafar Husain] Part 1, Page 18, Chapter 22, New edition of Shameem book depot, Nāzimābād, Karachi)

19. The concealment of Dīn is essential till the coming of the Mahdi.

(Ibid)

20. Imām Ja'far Sādiq (R.A) has said that Taqiyyah is the religion of our forefathers. He who does not act upon it is irreligious. One who has left out Taqiyyah is as if he has left out Salāh.

(Dhamimah Maqbool by Maqbool Husain Dehlawi, Page 179, Maqbool press, Delhi edition)

21. Imām Ja'far (R.A) has said that Taqiyyah is my way and the way of my forefathers.

(Tuhfatul Awām Maqbool - in accordance to Fatāwā- Khomeini, Page 450, Shī'ah Book Agency Edition, Insāf Press, Lahore)

22. Imam Ja'far (R.A) has ordered that one should be fearful with regard to one's religion and to conceal it by acting upon Taqiyyah because he who does not act upon Taqiyyah will not be protected.

(Hayātul Quloob, Part 3, [Urdu Translation of Bashārate Husain] Page 313, Imāmiyah Kutub Khānah edition, Lahore)

23. Taqiyyah is wājib until the arrival of Imām Mahdi and it is not permissible to abandon it. He who abandons it prior to the arrival of the Imām will be out of the fold of the religion of God, i.e. the Imāmiah religion.

(Ahsanul Fawāid fi Sharhil Aqāid by Shaikh Muhammad Husain, Part 2, Page 626, Allāh Fareed Printing Press Edition, Sargodā)

24. Taqiyyah is wājib. One who does not act upon it is like one who leaves out Salāh.

(Ibid)

25. As far as possible, one should outwardly conform to and mix with the opposition (the Sunni) but remain against them inwardly.

(Ibid)

26. He who performs salāh with his opposition in the first saff acting upon Taqiyyah is like one who has performed salāh with Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam in the first saff.

(Ibid)

27. Shī'ism would not have spread if it wasn't for Taqiyyah.

(Tārikhush Shī'ah by Muhammad Husain Ja'fari Sahiwāl, Page 230, Tarikhe Tahaffuze Āle Mohammad, edition Sarghodah)

28. Taqiyyah is a very great tool for the spreading of Dīn.

(Hazār Tumhāri Das Hamāri by Abdulkarim Mushtāq, page 248, Rahmatullah book agency edition.)

29. The entire lifestyle of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was based on Taqiyyah.

(Ibid)

30. Taqiyyah is unlawful in present conditions.

(Rahbar Mā Khomeini by Muhammad Abbās Qamar Zaidi, Page 82, Maktabah Me'raj Adab edition 919/20, Karachi)

31. Till the arrival of Imām Mahdi, one should live with Taqiyyah and conceal the inner beliefs.

(Jazirah Bar Mudah by Muhammad Abbās Qamar Zaidi, Page 170, Jamiatul Muntazireen edition, 919/20, Gulshan Mustafā Karachi)

32. Taqiyyah is that doctrine through which the Imāmiah Shī'ah is recognized. Taqiyyah was the distinguishing characteristic of the A'immah and the Ahle Bayt.

(Maktab-e-Tashee', by Shaikh Muhammad Radhā Muzaffar Iraq, Page 135, Jamiah Ta'leemāte Islāmi Edition, P.O.Box 5425, Karachi, Pakistan)

33. According to the Shī'i faith, it is permissible to conceal the religion and this is termed as Taqiyyah.

(Nur-e-Imān by Khairāt Ahmed, Page 415, Kutub Khānah Ithnā Ashari Edition, Lahore.)

34. Taqiyyah is that which is established through the commands of the Qur'ān, Hadīth and logic.

(Imām Ja'far Sādiq, [Urdu] page 155, Aqiqi Bakhshā'ish Edition, Iran)

35. Taqiyyah is something, which is natural in mankind.

(Na'eemul Abrār by Muhammad Husain Na'eemi, Part 1, Page 247, An Nazir Ghallah Mandi Ghoslā, Sahiwāl)

36. One particular Shī'ah used to innovate narrations against Hazrat Ali Radiallahu anhu through Taqiyyah.

(Sālim bin Qais Kufi [Urdu] by Malik Muhammad Shareef, Page 49, Nāshir Maktabah As Sājidah Edition, Shamsābād Multān)

37. Taqiyyah is part of the Dīn of Allah. He who does not act upon Taqiyyah has no religion.

(Sālīm bin Qais Kufi [Urdu], by Malik Muhammad Shareef, Page 103, Nāshir Maktabah As Sājidah Edition Shamsābād, Multan)

38. Imām Ja'far Sādiq (Rahmatullah alaih) has said that Taqiyyah is my religion and the religion of my forefathers.

(Shī'ah Nazriyyāt by Radhi Ja'far Naqawi, 81-82, Nāshir Daftare Islāh 118/13, Karachi 38)

39. Many rulings are recorded contrary to the Qur'ān in the Shī'i books through Taqiyyah.

(Namāz me Hāt Khula rakhne ka Thuboot by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 41, Jāmi'ul muntazir edition, Lahore)

40. There remains no need for Taqiyyah anymore.

(Haqiqate Fiqhe Hanafi by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 14, Jāmi'ul Muntazir, Lahore.)

41. Many things are not mentioned or exposed due to acting upon Taqiyyah.

(Tuhfah Hanafiyyah by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 287, Jāmi'ul Muntazir, Lahore.)

42. The command of Taqiyyah is found in the Qurān.

(Khasā'ile Mu'āwiyyah by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 136, Jāmi'ul Muntazir, Lahore.)

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The Shī'ah Belief Regarding Imāmah

The Shī'i belief of Imāmah in reality is a rejection of Khatme Nabuwwah (belief in the termination of prophethood) because the Shī'ah believe that the status of Imāmah is higher than that of Nabuwwah. The A'immah receive revelations. Just as the Ambiya Alayhis Sallam are innocent, the A'immah are also innocent. The Imām has the right to convert a lawful thing to be unlawful and vice versa. It is recorded in many Shī'i books that the rank of Imāmah is higher than that of Nubuwwah. The Imām is selected by Allah. They believe that obedience to the Imām is fard (compulsory) and disobedience to him is kufr. He who does not recognize the Imām has died a kāfir. Their belief that the Imām enjoys a higher status than a Nabi is in fact a rejection of khatme Nabuwwah and a disgrace to the Ambiyā Alayhis Sallam.

References hereunder are strictly restricted to Shī'i books.

1. He who rejects Ali Radhiallahu anhu to be the first khalifah is a kāfir.

(Anwāre Nu'māniyya by Nematullah Jazāiri, Part 3, Page 264, New Iranian Edition)

2. Allah called Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam 120 times to the heavens and emphasized upon the wilāyah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu and upon the Imāmah of the A'immah.

(Hayātul Quloob by Mullā Bāqir Majlisi, Part 2, Page 270, New Tehran Edition)

3. The A'immah are innocent.

(Hayātul Quloob by Mullā Bāqir Majlisi, Part 3, Page 15, New Tehran Edition)

4. There is no difference between Imāmah and Nubuwwah.

(Ash Shāfi [Translation of Usūlul Kāfi] by Zafar Husain, Part 3, chapter 102, Page 107, Shamim book depot, Nāzimābād, New Karachi Edition)

5. He who dies without recognizing the Imām has died a kafir.

(Ibid)

6. Allah called Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam 120 times to the heavens and emphasized upon the wilāyat of Ali Radiallahu anhu and upon the Imāmah of the A'immah.

(Tathkiratul A'immah by Mullā Bāqir Majlisi, Page 15)

7. The status of Imāmah is like that of Nubuwwah. In reality, Imāmah is also a type of Nubuwwah through the medium of the Nabi.

(Hayātul Quloob [Urdu Translation] by Bashārat Husain, Part 3, Page 163, Imāmiyyah kutub khānah Edition, Lahore)

8. Rejecting the Imāmah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu is like rejecting Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.

(Diyāul Uyoon [Translation of Jilāul Uyoon] by Abdul Husain, Part 1, Page 280, Shī'ah Jazl book agency Edition, Insāf press, Lahore)

9. Tauheed is incomplete if it does not consist of Imāmah and Wilāyah of the Ahle Bayt.

(Usūlush Shari'ah by Shaih Mohammad Husain Sarghudā, Page 272, Allāh Fareed printing press Edition, Sarghudā)

10. One who denies Ali Radhiallahu anhu to be the first khalifāh has denied the Nubuwwah of all the Ambiyā 6.

(Ahsanul Fawāid Fi Sharhil Aqāid by Mohammad Husain Sarghudā, Part 2, Page 601, Allāh Fareed printing press Edition, Sarghudā)

11. Those requisites which apply to the Ambiyā Alayha Sallam apply to the A'immah as well.

(Tajalliyāte Sadāqat by Shaikh Mohammad Husain, Part 1, Page 20, Allāh Ghadir printing press Edition, Sarghudā)

12. To give the title of "Imām" to anyone besides Ali Radhiallahu anhu is against Imān.

(Lam'atul anwār fi aqāidil Abrār by Husain Bakhsh Jhārā, Page 107, Maktabah Anwārun Najf Edition, Daryā Khan, District Bakkhar)

13. There is no difference between Imāmah and Nubuwwah.

(Islāmi Siyāsat by Husain Bakhsh Jhārāh, Page 214, Maktabah Anwārun Najf Edition, Daryā Khan, District Bakkhar)

14. No Nabi attained nubuwwat unless he accepted the wilāyah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Allāh Majālisul Fākhirah by Husain Bakhsh Jhārā, Page 12, Maktabah Anwārun Najf Edition, Daryā Khan, District Bakkhar)

15. Jibra'īl Alayhi sallam confessed the wilāyah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu. The place wherein he made this confession was granted the honour of becoming the land of the Ka'bah and the time of the confession was honoured by becoming the month of Ramadhān. Similarly, in humanity the first to make this confession will attain a very high rank.

16. Ali Radhiallahu anhu is the Imām of every being, male or female from the time of Ādam Alayhi sallam to the time of Abu Tālib.

(Ibid)

17. Allah called Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam to the heavens and gave him instructions concerning the khilāfah and Imāmah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Chaudah Sitāre by Najmul Hasan Karārwi, Page 61, Imāmiyyah kutub khanah, Lahore)

18. Allah instructed Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam to make Ali Radhiallahu anhu his substitute.

(Lawā'ijul Akhzān by Najmul Hasan Karārwi, Part 2, Page 87, Shī'ah book agency Edition, Railway road, Lahore.)

19. The sun and the moon announced the Imāmah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Ibid)

20. Ali Radhiallahu anhu was the Amīrul muminīn whilst Hazrat Ādam Alayhi sallam was not yet created.

(Ibid)

21. The Shī'i belief in Imāmah is in reality a seal to prophethood. The chain of Imāmah began once the chain of nubuwwah came to an end.

(Anghoor khatte hź by Abdulkarim Mushtāq, Page 114, Rahmatullah book agency Edition, Karachi)

22. Without doubt the stages of wilāyah exceed that of nubuwwah.

(Hazār tumhāri das Hamāri by Abdulkarim Mushtāq, Page 52, Rahmatullah book agency Edition, Karachi)

23. Allah is being worshipped because of the A'immah.

(Khilqate Nurāniah by Talib Husain Karpālwi, Part 1, Ja'fariyyah Dārut Tableegh Edition, Lahore)

24. The Imām holds the right of converting anything that he wishes from Halāl to Harām and vice versa.

(Ibid)

25. If there was consensus of the people and if the people accepted the Imāmah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu then Allah would not have created hell.

(Nurun Alā Nur by Tālib Husain Karpālwi, Part 3, Page 200, Ja'fariyyah Darut Tableegh Edition, Lahore.)

26. There is no difference between Imāmah and Nubuwwah.

(Maktab-e- Tashee' by Shaikh Mohammad Radhā Muzaffar Iraq, Page 114, Jāmiah' Ta'limāte Islāmi Edition, P.O.Box 5425 Karachi Pakistan)

27. The orders of the A'immah are the orders of Allah.

(Ibid)

28. The Imām is appointed by Allah i.e. he is specifically selected by Allah.

(Abdulkarim Mushtāq, Page 164, Qiyām Publications, Lahore)

29. Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam in his lifetime announced concerning the 12 A'immah.

(Wasi Rasulullāh by Abdulkarim Mushtaāq, Page 91, Rahmatullah book agency Edition, Karachi)

30. One who dies without recognizing the Imām of his time has died a Kāfir.

(Imām Ja'far Sādiq [Urdu], Page 150, Iranian Edition)

31. The level of Imāmah is also a godly level like that of Nubuwwah.

(Ibid)

32. The Imān of that person who confesses the wilāyah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu and keeps away from the enemy will be accepted.

(Na'eemul Abrār by Mohammad Husain Na'eemi, Part 1, Page 297, Maktabah An Nathir Edition, Sāhiwāl)

33. No person's Imāmah is acceptable besides that of Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Hadīthe Ghadeer by Ali Hasanain Shifah, Page 15, Edition: Khalifa Sayyed Hasan Mahdi publishers, Lahore)

34. Through Imāmah, the link of divine guidance remains intact.

(Intizāre Imām [Urdu] by Sayed Mohammad Bāqir, Page 12, Jamiah' Ta'limāte Islāmi Edition,, P.O. Box 5425, Karachi Pakistan)

35. Just as the Christians in their belief did not exceed Esā 6, the Ahlus sunnah did not exceed beyond Nabi Salallahu alaih wasallam.

(Ibid)

36. Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam handed the khalifah over to Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Ibid)

37. Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam has mentioned that 12 A'immah will be the khulafā and leaders after me, the first of whom will be Ali Radhiallahu anhu and the last of whom will be the Mahdi.

(Ibid)

38. There is no difference between the wilāyah of Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Salīm bin Qais Kufi [Urdu] by Malik Mohammad Shareef, Page 147, Maktabah As Sājidah publishers Edition, Shamābād, Multan)

39. He who dies without recognizing the Imām has died a kāfir.

(Shī'ah Nazriyyāt by Ja'far Naqawi Karachi, Page 57, Daftar Islāh publishers, 115/113 Karachi 38)

40. The status of the A'immah is like that of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.

(Ibid)

41. Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam brought his parents back to life and made them confess the wilāyah of Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Ummahāte A'immah by Malik Ghulām Haidar Kāloo, Page 57, Maktabah As Sājidah, Multan)

42. Imāmah is also explicitly from Allah.

(Nasse Khilāfah bila fasl by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 12, Jami'ul Muntazir, edition, Lahore)

43. He who rejects Ali Radhiallahu anhu to be the most virtuous after Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam is a kāfir.

(Tuhfa Hanafi by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 17, Jami'ul Muntazir, Lahore.)

44. The status of Imāmah is equal to the status of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.

(Sahme Musawwam by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 192,Jami'ul Muntazir, Lahore)

45. Each Imām is bestowed with a divine scripture.

(Khasāile Mu'āwiyyah by Gulām Husain Najafi, Page 136, Jami'ul Muntazir, Lahore)

46. There is a group called "Nizāmiyyah" who are the followers of Ibrahim bin Bassar An-Nizām. He was a shaytān who belonged to the Qadariyyah sect.

(Anwāre Nu'māmiyyah by Ne'matullah Jazairi, Part 2, Chapter; Nur fi Bayānil firaq wa adyānihā, Page 228, New Iranian Edition.)

47. From amongst the beliefs of the Nizāmiyyah group, one belief is that Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam explicitly granted the khilāfah to Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Ibid)

48. There have been differences concerning Imāmah. Some said that Imāmah was in the lineage of Hasan Radhiallahu anhu while others said that it was in the lineage of Husain Radhiallahu anhu. There have been differences in each of these two progenies as well.

(Ibid)

49. Abullah bin Sabā claimed Imāmah to be wājib and he claimed Ali Radhiallahu anhu to be the true god.

(Ibid)

50. There was a difference between Imām Zainul ĀbiDīn and Imām Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) concerning Imāmah so they went to the Hajre Aswad for a decision.

(Kashfun Ne'mah, Part 2, Pages 110/ 111, New Qum Edition)

51. It is the belief of some Shī'ah that accepting the A'immah converts all unlawful acts to halāl, even marrying one's own daughter becomes lawful.

(Firaqe Shī'ah by Abu Mohammad bin Musā Nobakhti, Page 28, New Najf Edition)

52. One Shī'i group believe that Ali bin Musā Kāzim and all those who claimed Imāmah in his progeny were illegitimate and Kuffār.

(Firaqe Shī'ah by Abu Mohammad bin Musa Nobakhti, Page 83-84, New Najf Edition)

53. One Shī'i sect claims that the right of Imāmah was for Mohammad bin Hanafiyyah.

(Ibid)

54. A Shī'ah asked Imām Bāqir a question. Thereafter, another person asked the same question but the Imām replied differently, so they said that such a person cannot be an Imām.

(Ibid)

55. A Shī'i sect claims that Imām Musā Kāzim did not die and is alive till this day.

(Ibid)

56. Imām Ja'far has said concerning the Imāmah of Ismā'eel that Allah erred due to which He became angry with many of the Shī'i A'immah.

(Ibid)

57. It is the claim of a Shī'i sect that Hasan Askari (the eleventh Imām) did not have a son.

(Ibid)

58. After the death of Hasan Askari, his brother Ja'far (rahmatullah alaih) claimed Imāmah whom the Shī'ah called "Ja'far Kadh-dhāb." (Ja'far the liar)

(Chaude Sitāre by Najmul Hassen Karārwi, Page 529, Imāmiyyah kutub Khanah Edition, Lahore)

59. Before Husain Radhiallahu anhu left for Kufāh, he appointed Mohammad bin Hanafiyyah as his wasi and substitute.

(Thibhe Azeem [Urdu] by Sayyed Awlād Haidar, Page 255, Maktabah Ridhwiyyah, Lahore)

60. The A'immah have all the knowledge which the angels and the prophets were given from Allah and they are also bestowed with knowledge that was not even granted to the angels and prophets.

(Usūlul Kāfi, Part 1, Kitābul Hujjah, Riwāyah 1, Page 255, New Iranian Edition)

61. It is fardh to obey the Imām. He who accepts the Imām is a mu'min and he who rejects him is a kāfir.

(Usūlul Kāfi, Part 1, Kitābul Hujjah, Bābu Fardhi Tā'atil A'immah, line 17, Riwāyah 11, Page 187, New Iranian Edition)

62. The A'immah have knowledge of the time of their death. They die with their own choice.

(Usūlul Kāfi, Part 1, Kitābul Hujjah, Page 258, New Iranian Edition)

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Shī'ah Theories Concerning The Mahdi

The Shī'ah hold this belief concerning Mahdi that he is alive and that he is in a cave. For some time he had contact with the mujtahiDīn which later came to an end. When he appears from the cave, he will bring along with him the original Qur'ān and a new shari'ah. He will remove Abu Bakr, Umar and Ā'isha Radhiallahu anha from their graves, grant them life and beat them up. The belief of the Ahlus sunnah is that the Mahdi is not yet born. A person by the name of Mahdi will appear. He will be a pious, god-fearing person. Besides these theories, many strange things are recorded in the Shī'i books concerning Mahdi. The reason why this tale (concerning Mahdi) was innovated is that if the chain of Imāmah had to carry on, Shi'ism would have split up into many groups as it happened in the times of the A'immah. Hence, the Shī'ah made Mahdi the morsel of the cave through a planned scheme, thus protecting their religion from breaking into many groups. They believe that when Mahdi arrives, then only will the Shari'ah be practiced upon. These are mere tales.

The following references provided are strictly from Shī'ah books:

1. Imām Mahdi disappeared into the cave for fear of getting killed.

(Usūlul Kāfi, Part 1, Kitābul Hujjah, line 17, Riwāyah No 9, Page 338, New Iranian Edition)

2. It is not permissible for any Shī'ah to mention the name of Imām Mahdi.

(Ibid)

3. He who takes the name of Imām Mahdi is a kāfir.

(Ibid)

4. Allah had ordained the appearance of the Mahdi in the seventieth year of Hijrah. Then the Shī'ah were disloyal to the A'immah due to which his emergence was delayed to the 140 th year of Hijrah and thereafter to an unspecified time.

(Ibid)

5. Ali Radhiallahu anhu has mentioned that the absence of Imām Mahdi will be for at least 6 years.

(Ibid)

6. Hasan Askari (father of Imām Mahdi) (rahmatullah alaih) died without leaving behind any male children, not even Mahdi was born at that time. Therefore, the estate was distributed between the mother and his brother Ja'far.

(Ibid)

7. When Imām Mahdi appears, he will take revenge from the children, parents and grandparents of the murderers of Husain Radhiallahu anhu.

(Allāh Qur'ān Allāh Mubayyin fi Tafsīril Muttaqeen by Imdād Husain Kāzimi, Page 37, Shī'ah Jazl book agency Edition, Insāf press, Lahore)

8. When Imām Mahdi emerges, he will first break down all those masājid which have the minārah.

(Ibid)

9. Allah destined the appearance of Imām Mahdi in the 70th year of Hijrah. When Husain Radhiallahu anhu was killed, Allah delayed it to the 140th of Hijrah, and when the secret was exposed, Allah delayed it to an unknown time.

(Tafsīr Iyāshi by Mohammad bin Mas'ood Iyāshi, Part 2, Page 210, Hadīth No. 51, Suratul Isrā')

10. The son of Imām Mahdi is ruling 5 cities in some peninsula by himself, wherein the Mahdian law is being followed and the act of Tabarrah (swearing the Sahābah) is also being acted upon.

(Anwāre Nu'māniyyah by Ne'matullah Jazāiri, Part 2, Bāb Nurun fi Bilādihi, Page 58/59/63, New Iranian Edition)

11. Imām Bāqir has mentioned that the duration between the murder of Imām Nafs Zakiyya and Imām Mahdi will not be more than 15 days.

(Kashfud Dimmah, Part 2, Page 460, New Qum Edition)

12. Imām Mahdi will be recognized on that day in which the number of Shī'ah will be 313 and he will emerge when their number reaches 1000.

(Ihtijāje Tabrasi by Ahmad bin Ali Tabrasi, Part 2, Page 250, New Qum Edition)

13. When Imām Mahdi comes, he will bring along with him a Qur'ān which will be seven hand spans long.

(Ihtijāje Tabrasi by Ahmad bin Ali Tabrasi, Part 12, Page 213, New Qum Edition)

14.Ali Radhiallahu anhu will come back to life and pledge allegiance to and will obey Imām Mahdi.

(Maj'maul Ma'ārif by Mohammad Shafee' bin Mohammad Saleh dar Zuhoor Hazrat Qā'im, Page 48, New Tehran Edition)

15. When Imām Mahdi arrives, he will be completely naked. The first to pledge allegiance to him will be Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.

(Haqqul Yaqeen by Mullā Bāqir Majlisi, Part 2, Ithbāte Raj'at, Page 347, New Tehran Edition)

16. He who calls out the name of Imām Mahdi is a kāfir.

(Ash Shāfi by Zafar Husain, [Translation of Usūlul Kāfi], Part 2, chapter 176, Page 285, Shameem book depot, Nāzimābād, Karachi, New Edition)

17. The words that were revealed to the prophets will be revealed to the Mahdi as well.

(Ash Shāfi by Zafar Husain, [Translation of Usūlul Kāfi], Part 3, chapter 118, Page 87, Shameem book depot, Nāzimābād, Karachi, New Edition)

18. Imām Mahdi is the governor of a place in the west and he has offspring as well.

(Tathkiratul A'immah by Mullā Bāqir Majlisi, Page 140)

19. For 73 years, the agents of Mahdi conversed with him. This continued until 309 hijrah. After this year, any person who claims to have met Mahdi is a kāfir.

(Tathkiratul A'immah by Mullā Bāqir Majlisi, Page 139)

20. In the government of Mahdi, the ages of people will be longer. A person will have such a long life that it will be possible to have a thousand sons.

(Ahsanul Maqāl by Safdar Husain Najafi, Part 2, Page 338, Imāmiyyah publications Edition, Lahore)

21. Imām Mahdi will put all those youth to death who are of 20 years and haven't attained Dīni knowledge.

(Ibid)

22. Imām Mahdi will come with a new type of knowledge.

(Ibid)

23. In the period of Imām Mahdi, the Hajarul Aswad will be in Kufah.

(Lam'atul Anwār fi Aqāidil Abrār by Husain Bakhsh Jhārā, Page 245, Maktabah Anwārun Najf Edition, Daryā Khan, District Bhakkhar)

24. Jibrīl Alayhi sallam, Mīkā'īl Alayhi sallam and all the other angels will pledge allegiance to Imām Mahdi. He will then go to Kufah and destroy all the enemies of the Ahle Bayt (the family of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

(Chaudah Sitāre by Najmul Hassen Karārwi, Page 594, Imāmiyyah kutub Khanah Edition, Lahore)

25. Imām Husain Radhiallahu anhu will give Imām Mahdi the ghusl, kafn and he will also perform the janāzah salāh.

(Ibid)

26. On the night of Qadr, the angels supply Mahdi with food and all other necessities for the year which is then distributed by the Mahdi.

(Ibid)

27. A sign that will show the emergence of Mahdi will be that the sun will rise from the west.

(Ibid)

28. Mahdi will appear at the time when there remain 40 mu'mineen in the world.

(Ibid)

29. It is recorded in an Iranian article that in the absence of Mahdi, a pious jurist will guide the people.

(A.S.S Page 54, Article No. 5, Ali Akbakr Shāh, Karachi)

30. Every ship, which goes to that island wherein Imām Mahdi is residing, sinks.

(Jazeerah bar Moodah by Mohammad Abbās Qamar Zaidi, Page 118, Jamiatul Muntazireen Edition, 919/20 Gulshan Mustafā, Karachi)

31. The original Qur'ān is in the possession of Imām Mahdi.

(Hazār tumhāri das Hamāri by Abdulkarim Mushtāq, Page 553, Rahmatullah book agency Edition, Karachi)

32. Imām Mahdi has offspring.

(Jazeerah bar Moodah by Mohammad Abbās Qamar Zaidi, Page 124, Jamiatul Muntazireen Edition, 919/20, Gulshan Mustafā, Karachi)

33. People gather on every Friday and in the middle of every month awaiting the emergence of Mahdi and they call out to the Almighty for his quick emergence.

(Ibid)

34. Imām Mahdi is alive and equally shares our happy days as well as our sorrows and grief.

(Intizāre Imām [Urdu] by Sayyed Mohammad Bāqir, Page 10, Jamiah Ta'limāte Islāmi Edition, Pakistan, P.O. Box 5425, Karachi)

35. Imām Mahdi disappeared by the command of Allah.

(Ibid)

36. Imām Mahdi is generally present in the gatherings of the mu'minīn.

(Ibid)

37. Imām Mahdi had a connection with 4 Shī'ahs for 70 years.

(Ibid)

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The Shī'ah Belief Concerning Raj'ah

The Shī'ah believe that once Imām Mahdi appears, all the Ambiyā Alayha sallam including Mohammad Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, all the A'immah and the khulafā and Ā'isha Radhiallahu anha (who are kuffār according to Shī'i belief) will be brought back to life and revenge will be taken from Abubakr, Umar and Ā'isha Radhiallahu anha who will be removed from their graves and lashed. The belief of the Ahlus sunnah is that before Qiyāmah, no person will come back to life, nor will any other creation come back to life. Therefore, this belief of the Shī'ah is in reality a rejection of the day of Qiyāmah.

1. The Imām has mentioned that he who does not believe mut'ah to be halāl and he who does not believe in Raj'ah (returning to life-before Qiyāmah) is not from amongst us.

(Tafsīr Sāfi by Fāidh Kāshāni, Part 1, Page 347, line 18, New Iranian Edition)

2. Before Qiyāmah, Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, Husain Radhiallahu anha and a few other sincere Muslims and some kuffār will be brought back to life.

(Anwāre Nu'māniyyah by Ne'matullah Jazāiri, Part 2, Page 87, Bāb: Nur fi Kayfiyyatir Raj'ah, New Iranian Edition)

3. People mourn on the grave of Husain Radhiallahu anhu because he was murdered and the angels were unable to assist him. But when Mahdi comes and people will return to life, the angels will help Mahdi.

([Aqida-e-Raj'ah] Ash Shāfi by Zafar Husain, Part 2, Page 196, chapter 60, Shameem book depot Edition, Nāzimābād, Karachi, New Edition)

4. Before Qiyāmah all the Ambiyā 6 will come back to life and assist Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Dhamimah Maqbool by Maqbool Husain Dehlawi, Page 46, Maqbool press Edition, Delhi)

5. Ali Radhiallahu anhu will come back to life.

(Hayātul Quloob [Urdu Translation] by Bashārat Husain, Part 1, Page 204, Imāmiyyah kutub Khanah Edition, Lahore)

6. Aqidatur-Raj'ah means to believe that all the Ambiyā Alayha sallam will come back to life before Qiyāmah and help Ali Radhiallahu anhu.

(Ibid)

7. Ali Radhiallahu anhu will wage a battle in the period of Raj'ah.

(Usūlush Shari'ah by Shakh Mohammad Husain Surghudā, Page 26, Allāh Qadeer printing press Edition, Surghuda)

8. Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, a few Ambiyā Alayha sallam, A'immah and sincere mu'minīn and some kuffār and munāfiqīn will come back to life before Qiyāmah.

(Ahsanul Fawā'id fi Sharhil Aqāid by Shaikh Mohammad Husain Sarghudā, Page 313, Allāh Qadeer printing press Edition, Sarghudā)

9. Raj'ah is from among the necessities of the Imāmiyyah religion. (i.e. it is necessary to have faith on raj'ah). Raj'ah means that after the emergence of Imām Mahdi, the staunch kuffār and munāfiqīn, similarly the true believers from amongst whom are Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, the A'immah and some other Ambiya Alayha sallam will come back to life.

(Chaude Sitāre by Najmul Hassen Karārwi, Page 601, Imāmiyyah kutub Khanah Edition, Lahore)

10. All the Shī'i A'immah have faith in the doctrine of raj'ah.

(Maktab-e- Tashee' by Shaikh Mohammad Radhā Muzaffar Iraq, Page 127, Jamiah Ta'leemāte Islāmi Edition,, P.O. Box 5425, Karachi Pakistan.)

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Print Edition Published & Printed by:
Madrasah Arabia Islamia, P.O. Box 9786, Azaadville, 1750, Krugersdorp, South Africa
Tel : {011) 413 2786/7, Fax: {011) 413 2638

Translated by Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Publication Department, Abdurrahmān Is'haq
Publication No. A 133
First Edition: Jumādal Ukhrā 1420 A.H.

September 1999

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