Foreword

Introduction

Question 1 : Which is correct, “wa ‘itrati” {and my progeny}, or “wa sunnati” {and my tradition}?

Question 2 : What does “Shi‘ah” mean?

Question 3 : Why is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (‘a) regarded as the wasi {executor of will} and successor of the Prophet (S)?

Question 4: Who are the Imams?

Question 5: Why do Shi’a say “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa Ali Muhammad”

Question 6: Why do you regard your Imams as “infallible” {ma‘sum}?

Question 7: Why do Shi’a Add Ashhadu anna ‘aliyyan waliyyullah” in the Call to Prayer?

Question 8: Who is the Mahdi of Muhammad’s Progeny {Al Muhammad} and why are you waiting for his advent?

Question 9: If the Shi‘ah are right, then why are they in the minority and why do most Muslims in the world not recognize them (as Muslims)?

Question 10: What is raj‘ah {“return”} and why do you believe in it?

Question 11: What is shafa‘ah {intercession}, which you believe in?

Question 12: Is asking the rightful intercessors for intercession {shafa‘ah} tantamount to polytheism {shirk}?

Question 13: Is seeking help from someone other than God regarded as a kind of polytheism {shirk}?

Question 14: Is calling on someone tantamount to worshipping him and to polytheism?

Question 15: What is bada’ and why do you believe in it?

Question 16: Do the Shi‘ah believe in the tahrif {distortion} of the Qur’an?

Question 17: How do the Shi‘ah view the Sahabah {Companions}?

Question 18: What is meant by “temporary marriage” {mut‘ah} and why do the Shi‘ah regard it as lawful?

Question 19: Why do the Shi‘ah prostrate on turbah {dried clay}?

Question 20: During ziyarah, why do the Shi‘ah kiss the doors and walls of the shrines of awliya’ and seek blessings {tabarruk} whereby?

Question 21: Is according to Islam religion separate from politics?

Question 22: Why do the Shi‘ah regard the sons of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (‘a) (Hasan and Husayn (‘a)) as the sons of the Messenger of Allah (S)?

Question 23: Why do the Shi‘ah believe that caliphate {khilafah} is a matter of appointment {tansisi}?

Question 24: Is to swear by other than God regarded as a kind of polytheism?

Question 25: Is to resort to the divine saints {awliya’} for mediation {tawassul} regarded as polytheism {shirk} and tantamount to innovation in religion {bid‘ah}?

Question 26: Is celebrating the birthday of the saints {awliya’} of God a kind of polytheism and innovation {bid‘ah}?

Question 27 : Why do the Shi‘ah perform the five daily prayers in three periods?

Question 28: What are the sources of Shi‘i jurisprudence {fiqh}?

Question 29 : Did Abu Talib die a believer on account of which you visit {ziyarah} his shrine?

Question 30 : Do the Shi‘ah think that Jibra’il (Archangel Gabriel) has committed treachery when he conveyed the message {risalah} to Muhammad instead of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib?

Question 31: What is the criterion of taqiyyah {dissimulation}?

Question 32 : Why is the Ja‘fari school of thought {madhhab} stipulated in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the official madhhab of the country?

Question 33 : Do the Shi‘ah regard witr prayer as obligatory?

Question 34: Is the belief that great divine people {awliya’} have supernatural power tantamount to polytheism {shirk}?

Question 35 : Why is the station of Imamate {imamah} higher than that of prophethood {nubuwwah}?

Question 36 : What is the criterion for distinguishing monotheism or the Unity of God {tawhid} from polytheism {shirk}?

Bibliography

Under the supervision of Ayatullah Ja'far Subhani, Sayyid Rida Husayni
Nasab introduces a text outlining the differences in different 'Ummahs'
of Islam. He discusses what unites them, as well as those traditions and
understandings that cause dispute amongst them.


The Shia Rebuts

Question 4: Who are the Imams?
==============================

**Reply:** During his lifetime, the Holy Prophet (S) declared that after
him there shall be twelve caliphs all of whom will be from Quraysh, and
through whom Islam shall be exalted.  
 Jabir ibn Samurah narrates:

<blockquote dir="rtl">
  <p>
"سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وأله وسلم يقول : لا يزال الإسلام عزيزاً
إلى اثنى عشر خليفة ثم قال كلمة لم أسمعها فقلت لأبي ما قال؟ فقال: كلهم
من قريش."
  </p>
</blockquote>

I heard the Messenger of Allah (S) saying: ‘Islam will keep its honor
through twelve caliphs.’ Then, he said a statement which I failed to
catch. So I asked my father, “What did he (S) say?” He (my father)
replied that he (S) said: “All of them will be from Quraysh.[^1]

In the history of Islam, there are not twelve caliphs who preserve the
honor of Islam except the twelve Imams in whom the Shi‘ah believe; for
they are the twelve caliphs whom the Prophet (S) introduced as his
successors.

Now, let us see who the twelve caliphs are. If we say that they are the
four caliphs who are known by the Ahl as-Sunnah as “Rightly-Guided
Caliphs” {*khulafa’ ar-rashidun*}, there are no other caliphs who
contributed to exalting Islam.

The biography of the ‘Umayyad and ‘Abbasid caliphs is a testimony to
this fact. As for the twelve Imams in whom the Shi‘ah believe, they were
a clear manifestation of piety and virtue during their respective
periods.

They were also preservers of the Messenger of Allah’s (S) *Sunnah* and
the people to whom *Sahabah* {Companions} and *Tabi‘un* {Followers} were
attracted,[^2] and whose knowledge and trustworthiness are acknowledged
by historians. These twelve Imams are:

1. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib;

2. Hasan ibn ‘Ali (al-Mujtaba);

3. Husayn ibn ‘Ali;

4. ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (Zayn al-‘Abidin);

5. Muhammad ibn ‘Ali (al-Baqir);

6. Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (as-Sadiq);

7. Musa ibn Ja‘far (al-Kazim);

8. ‘Ali ibn Musa (ar-Rida);

9. Muhammad ibn ‘Ali (at-Taqi);

10. ‘Ali ibn Muhammad (an-Naqi);

11. Hasan ibn ‘Ali (al-‘Askari); and

12. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan (al-Mahdi).

There have been *mutawatir* traditions related from the Prophet (S)
regarding the last Imam who is known as the “Promised Mahdi” transmitted
by Muslim *hadith* scholars {*muhaddithun*}.

For further information about the life of these great leaders, whom the
Messenger of Allah (S) himself has named, one may refer to the following
books:

1. *Tadhkirat al-Khawas* *(Tadhkirah Khawas* *al-Ummah)*;

2. *Kifayat al-Athar*;

3. *Wafiyat al-A‘yan*; and

4. *A‘yan ash-Shi‘ah* (by Sayyid Muhsin Amin al-‘Amili), which is the
most comprehensive of the four books.

[^1]: Muslim, Sahih (Egypt), vol. 6, p. 2. Abdul-Hamid Siddiqui
(trans.), Sahih Muslim (English Translation), vol. 3, hadith no. 4480.
{Trans.}

[^2]: Tabi‘un {‘Followers’ or ‘Successors’} refers to the second
generation of Muslims who came after the Companions, who did not know
the Prophet (S) but who knew his Companions. {Trans.}


