SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SHIISM

By Shahid Athar

The centuries-old Shia-Sunni differences are the major obstacle
to Muslim unity. These differences have always been fanned by the
enemies of Islam to their benefit. Unfortunately, some so-called Muslim
scholars on their payroll have also played a key role in keeping these
differences alive.

Although I was born into a Sayyid Sunni family, I did not know
of many differences while growing up as a child. Our families always
respected Imam Hussain (p) and his parents and participated in
ceremonies marking the anniversary of his martyrdom (the 10th day of the month
of Muharram which is called Ashura) by reciting the first chapter of the
Quran (al-Fatihah) and other chapters and verses of the Quran and
fasted on the ninth and tenth days of that month.

Now when I give lectures on Islam to non-Muslims, one of the
questions they always ask me is if I am Shia or Sunni. I ask them if
they know the difference. They have no knowledge, other than what has
been given to them by the media. So they say Shias are the ones who are
the militant version of Islam, and cause all the trouble in the Middle
East these days.

These non-Muslim American audiences of mine are surprised to
learn that some of the known tyrants like Saddam Hussain and movements
like the PLO and Hamas are all Sunnis, just as they are surprised to
learn that Tariq Aziz (Iraq's former Vice President r) is Christian and not
a Muslim.

This is what I say to them about Shia. "If Ali Ibn Talib
(cousin of Prophet Muhammad) was a Shia, then I am a Shia. If he was a
Sunni, then I am a Sunni (i.e., a follower of Prophet Muhammad (p).

In Islam there are five recognized schools of interpretation
Quran and Sunnah. 1) Hanafi; 2) Shafi; 3) Maliki; 4) Hanbali and 5)
Jafari. The first four are called Sunni, and the fifth one, who in addition
to following sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (p), also follows
those of Ali and consider him as the rightful successor of the Prophet,
are called Shia . The first four have many major theological
differences among themselves ..Shi'ism started as a movement (Shia means helper
or partisan) to help Ali(ra) become successor of Muhammad (p).Around
every successful popular figure, there are some admirers whose own future
interests rest with the rise of their leader. Thus in Indiana, we have
"Friends of Lugar Club", who are hoping that some day Senator Richard
Lugar will become a US President. Thus, there were the Helpers of Ali
Club which later on became a political movement. During the initial
battles with unbelievers, Ali, the Sword of Islam, was in the forefront
and defeated and killed many of their leaders whose children and
grandchildren, even when they became Muslims, always remembered who killed
their father..

Ali(ra) was raised by Prophet Muhammad(p) as a child so he knew
Islam very well. Thus, when he became a judge, his judgments were
based on strict Islamic principles, much to the disappointment of many who
expected him to be lenient to the rich and powerful. He was so well
respected and trusted by both Caliph Abu Bakr and Umar, that in difficult
cases they asked his opinion.

I tell my non-Muslim audience that both Shia and Sunni have
much in common. They both believe in One God (Allah), follow the same
Prophet Muhammad (p) as the last Prophet, offer five daily prescribed
prayers, perform the prescribed fast in the month of Ramadan, go to Mecca
for the pilgrimage (hajj), read the same Quran, and pay the
poor-due.(Zakat)

However, my answers can only satisfy my uninformed non-Muslim
audience. The Sunni brothers, misguided by western propaganda. who are
ready to embrace non-Muslims (especially the white ones), in the
pretext of inviting them to Islam, will not do so for Shia and shia do the
same. Our job as a Muslim should be to invite both groups to the true
Islam and not chase them out. There is a movement in the Sunni world to
have Shias labeled as disbelievers. .

There are scholars on both sides, like Imam Khomeini and Shaykh
Shaltut of al-Azhar who have done their best to minimize these
differences and bring unity, but it is not working due to the misinformation
prevailing in the common masses of Sunnis about Shi'ism. Thus I am
listing their misconceptions of Shia belief and practices. For answers, I
have consulted two Shia scholars in America., Dr. A. S. Hashim of
Washington and Imam Muhammad Ali Elahi of Detroit.

Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr wrote to me "to ignore and not
waste time in responding to such wrong allegations." He also mentioned
that "a great deal of money and effort is being spent in the last few
years to fan the fire of hatred between Shia and Sunni in the Persian Gulf
region with obvious political and economical fruits for powers to-be."
However, in the interest of Islamic unity, I must deal with the
questions rather than shun them. Please note that Imam Jafar (peace be upon
him), founder of the Shia school of law, was the teacher of Imam
Abu-Hanifa (peace be upon him).

Misconception #1: Shias have a different Quran. They add
another 10 chapters to the original Quran.

Response: Not true. I have checked many times Quran kept
in Shia homes and mosques. I still find it the same as the original
Quran. More recently, I took care of an Iranian lady patient hospitalized
here. I saw a copy of the Quran by her side. I borrowed it from her
and browsed through cover to cover. In Arabic it was the same as our
Quran. Of course, since I did not know the Persian language, I can't say
much about the translation. It is a sin to even say that the Quran can
be changed or added to by Shia when it is protected by God.

Misconception #2: Some Shia consider Ali as God.

Response: Not true. It is disbelief to even think of such
a thing. During the time of Ali, some pagan groups called Gholat did
consider Ali as Lord. When he found out, they were burned to death.
Alawis of Syria may have a similar belief, but they are non-Muslims,
neither Shia nor Sunni.

Misconception #3: Shias have different declarations of faith
and they add to the call to prescribed prayer.

Response: The declaration to become a Muslim, as
administered to non-Muslims, is the same. Some Shia add to themselves, "Ali is a
friend of God (PBUH) or Ali is a spiritual leader of God," after the
call to prescribed prayer, but not as part of the call to prescribed
prayer.

Misconception #4: Shias do not perform sunnah prayers. Sunnah
prayers are non obligatory prayers performed by Prophet Muhammad.(p)

Response: Shia do perform non-obligatory prayers, 36 cycles
per day in total, but call it nawafil and not sunnah.

Misconception #5: Some Shia believe that Angel Gabriel made a
mistake and prophet hood was meant for Ali and not Muhammad (p)).

Response: Not true. No Shia thinks of such false claims.
"Only demented minds think of such questions."

Misconception #6: Shias slander and ridicule the first three
caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman) and Prophet Muhammad's wife,
Ayisha.

Response: Shia consider the first three caliphs as great companions
and good Muslim administrators, but not spiritual leaders (imams).
Imam Jafar Sadiq, whose mother and grandmother came from the line of Abu
Bakr, said of Abu Bakr, "He gave me birth twice." Ayisha is respected by
Shias as the "Mother of Believers," as Ali respected her when he sent
her back from Basra to Medina after the Battle of the Camel. If some
Shia do slander the three caliphs and Ayisha, they do it out of ignorance
and should ask God's forgiveness.

Misconception # 7: Shias combine all five prayers into one
prayer in the evening.

Response: Not true. In Shia mosques, whether in Iran or
the USA, all five daily prayers are performed. Some working Shia do
combine noon and afternoon and evening and night, but Shia scholars
recommend performing them separately. Such combinations may not be ideal, but
better than not praying at all. How can a Sunni who does not pray at
all be better than a Shia who combines prayers?

Misconception # 8: Shias do not pay zakat (poor-due).

Response: Not true. They not only pay 2.5% left over from
savings as zakat, but also an additional 20% as khums or general
charity. However, they prefer to pay directly to the needy rather than
corrupt Sunni government.

Misconception #9: Shias practice temporary marriages (mutah).

Response: Mutah (temporary marriages) was allowed during
the time of Prophet Muhammad (P). Later on Caliph Umar prohibited it due
to social reasons as the Islamic world was rapidly expanding. Shias
discourage mutah but do not consider it prohibited. Some do abuse this.

Misconception #10: They consider Imams infallible and above the
prophets.

Response: Not true. All prophets are born Prophet but as
mentioned in Quran about Abraham that after passing the test, a prophet
becomes a leader (Imam). Imams are carriers of the message of Islam.
Shias consider Ali only as an Imam, but Muhammad (p) is the Prophet
(nabi), Messenger (rasul) and leader (imam).

With the little knowledge I have, I have tried to do my best as
a Sunni in defending my Shia brothers in Islam with the hope and prayer
to God Almighty that He will "instill love in the heart of the
believers" and bring us closer to each other so that we jointly can fight our
common enemy, Satan and his followers. Please note that answers are from
two Shia scholars mentioned in the article and I do not take any
credit. Wa Allah o Alam ( only God knows the best ).

May God forgive my mistakes in this article and this book
(amin).

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Shahid Athar, MD . is author of 7 books including “ Reflections of an
American Muslim “ and “Healing the wounds of Sept.11, 2001 “, web
page islam-usa.com