Shiism in Sunnism

Translator’s Preface

In the Name of Most Exalted

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمْ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا.

“This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion.”

This is what Almighty God revealed to His Prophet (a.s) in Ghadir Khumm, favoring mankind with a perfect religion. Believing in Islam as the most perfect religion requires not only a life in accord with its principles but also a constant attempt to discover the reality and spirit of it.

Shiism in Sunnism” is an invaluable step in the direction of such an attempt, of which I had the honor of translation. I can hardly, if ever, praise Allah for the wisdom and capability He has bestowed on me. In fact, ‘this is of the grace of my Lord.’[^1]

I am greatly indebted to my parents for their sincere support throughout my life. I am also thankful to my professors without whose guidance I could not accomplish this translation, which is as a drop in the ocean. I dedicate this first translation experience of mine to the Commander of the Believers, Imam Ali (a.s), as an offering for “the day when We call every people with their Imams”[^2] and “the day on which property will not avail, nor sons.”[^3]

Hamideh Elahinia
Esfand, 1381
March, 2003

[^1]: Holy Qur’an, Naml (27), Verse 40.

[^2]: Holy Qur’an, Isra’ (17), verse 71.

[^3]: Holy Qur’an, Shu’ara’ (26), verse 88.