Al-Khutoot Al-‘Areedah

THE PREDETERMINED FACT OF SECTARIANISM
The existence of numerous sects, the majority of which are deviant, is a predetermined fact referred to in the Glorious Qur’aan: And if your Lord [Allaah] had so willed, He could have made mankind a single unified community, but they will not cease to dispute and differ; except those upon whom your Lord has bestowed His mercy. And for this did He create them, and the word of your Lord will be fulfilled: I will fill Hell with jinns and men altogether. (Surah 11:118-119)

Furthermore, Allaah's Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa salam.) had said:
"Verily this nation [of Muslims] will divide into seventy-three sects", and in another narration: "All of them [these sects] will be in the Fire except one.' When asked which it was, the Prophet replied: "The one, which adheres to my Sunnah (way of life) and the Sunnah of my Companions.”1

Thus, it was incumbent upon us to bring to light the stark differences among the sects so that it may be perfectly clear what each sect believes in and adheres to that Allaah s proof against His slaves may be established: But that Allaah might accomplish a matter already ordained [in His knowledge]; so that those who were destroyed [by rejecting faith] might be destroyed after a clear sign [had been. given] and those who live [i.e. believers] might live after a clear sign [had been given]. And surely Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Surah 8:42)

Shi'ism originated in the first century of Islaam as an exaggerated affection for and partisanship of Ahlul-Bait (the family and descendants of the Prophet Muhammad [sallahu alayhi wa salam]).

 Later on, it developed into a set of misbeliefs and erroneous concepts which ultimately constituted a new religion; a religion other than that which was taught by the Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alayhi wa salam), and by his Companions after him.

The Shi'ites claim to have a Qur’aan other than the one that is unanimously recognised by all Muslims throughout the history of Islaam. Furthermore, they reject the authentic compilations of the sacred traditions, such as those of the two great imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim. They consider all but a few-of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad to be apostates, while they elevate their Imams to a position comparable o that of the gods of ancient mythology Unfortunately, some naive or simple-minded Muslims are inclined to believe that the Shi'ites of today have abandoned their deviant tenets and have reverted to the right path. Grounds for such a belief are yet to be found.

A detailed exposition of the Shi'ite distortions and misconceptions will follow in this treatise, but at this point I will briefly touch on some of the views of the contemporary Shi'ite religious elite; the ayatullahs and mullahs whose commands are obeyed and slavishly adhered to by the ordinary Shi'ite.

In a treatise entitled Tuhfatul-Awaam Maqbool, published recently, there appeared an invocation2 endorsed by six of the most respected contemporary Shi'ite imams including Khomeini and Shariat-Madari. In that invocation, Abu Bakr and 'Umar, May Allaah be pleased with them, are accused of altering the Qur’aan.

Those two illustrious caliphs, along with their two daughters, who were the noble and pure wives of the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa salam) were cursed and reviled by the Shi'ites of today.

Khomeini, in his book Al-Hukoomatul-lslamiwah (the Islaamic government), claims that the Twelve Imams are infallible, and he raises them to a level above the heavenly angels and the commissioned prophets of Allaah; he stresses: "Certainly, the Imam commands a noble station and lofty position; a creative vicegerency to who's rule and power submit the very atoms of all creation [!] 

And an essential tenet of our Shi'ite sect is that the Imams have a position which is reached neither by the angels [in the highest heaven] nor by any commissioned messenger of God 3." He further stated: "The teachings and directives of the Imams are just like those of the Qur’aan, it is compulsory on one to follow them and carry them out." 4

In short, Khomeini and his fellow clergymen adhere to all of the perverse tenets of the Shi'ite faith as laid out in detail in Al-Kaafi.

Khomeini clearly admits this in his book Al-Huloomatul-Islaamiah:
"Do you think that it is enough for us, with respect to-our religion, to collect its rulings and directives in Al-Kaafi, then put it on a shelf and neglect it?"

Al-Khutoot Al-'Areedah, provides some details from Al-Kaafi, a foundation stone of the Shi'ite religion, so that the naive good-hearted Muslims may have a second thought before cherishing the idea that the Shi'ites of today are different from those of the past. Abu Bilal Mustafa Al-Kanadi, Mecca and Vancouver Ramadan-Dhul-Qa'dah 1403 A.H. /1983 C.E.

THE CALL TO RECONCILIATION OF THE VARIOUS SECTS AND SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
Bringing Muslims closer to each other in their thoughts, convictions and aims is one of the greatest objectives of Islaam, and a most vital means of achieving Muslim unity, power, revival and reconstruction. When the call to such a purpose is free from ulterior motives and is likely to yield more benefit than harm, (and the call to unity is to bring the people together upon the same understanding of aqeedah and manhaj) then it becomes incumbent on all Muslims to respond to it and to co-operate with each other to make it a success.

Discussion of this call had increased in recent years, and had such a pronounced effect that it attracted the attention of Al-Azhar University, one of the religious institutions of those who adhere to the four schools of jurisprudence of Ahlus-Sunnahs (Sunni Muslims) 5. Al-Azhar fully adopted the idea of bringing Muslim groups together and pursued it beyond the limits of its authority that had been established in the time of Salahuddin and maintained up until the present Al-Azhar overstepped its bounds in its desire to explore and to accommodate various schools of thought, the foremost of which is the school of the Shi'ite Twelve Imamers.6

Al-Azhar is, at this point, in the early stages of this mission. Therefore, this topic is timely and worthy of research, study and exposition by every Muslim who has knowledge of the issue, in all its details and with all its ramifications. Since religious issues tend to be controversial in ature, they should be handled with wisdom, insight and straightforwardness.

The researcher must also be enlightened by Allaah's guidance and be impartial in his judgement in order that his research may achieve its claimed objectives and yield satisfactory results, if it be so willed by Allaah. It may be remarked that with any contentious issue involving more than one party, chances for its successful resolution are correlated-to the responsiveness of the parties involved. With respect to the question of bringing Ahlus-Sunnah and the Shi'ites closer to each other, it has been noticed that a centre was established for this purpose in Egypt, financed by the government of a Shi'ite country.

This open-handed Shi'ite government has honoured us with its generosity while it deprived itself and the adherents of its own school of thought of its governmental bounty It has also been noticed that it did not build such a lavish establishment for the call to "reconciliation" in Tehran, Qum, Najaf, Jabal 'Aamil, or any other centre known for its propagation of the Shi'ite school of thought.'

These Shi'ite propaganda centres published during the past years books that make one's skin crawl and one's body tremble from the shock of what is written therein. Reading them utterly destroys any idea we may have entertained of developing mutual understanding and closeness with their Shi'ite authors and the like of them.

Among these publications is a book entitled Az-Zahraa, by Shi'ite scholars of Najaf, in which they alleged that Amirul Mu'mineen 'Umar ibn Khattaab, the second caliph, was plagued with a disease curable only by the water of men (i.e., semen)! This filthy slander was noted by the scholar Al-Basheer Al-lbrahimi, the Sheikh of the Algerian 'ulamaa, during his first visit to Iraq. A filthy soul, which produces such wickedness, is in a greater need of the call to understanding and reconciliation than we are.

The fundamental difference between them and us is rooted in their claim that they are more loyal to Ahlul Bait, and in the fact that they hide from us their malice towards and grudge against the Companions of the Prophet, on whose shoulders Islaam was established. Their hatred reached such a point that they can utter the filthy words against 'Umar ibnul-Khattaab that were noted above.

Is it not fair to say that they should have restrained their malice and hatred against the first Imams of Islaam and that they should have appreciated the noble stand of Ahlus-Sunnah toward Ahlul Bait, that stand which never fell short in offering due homage and reverence to the family of the Prophet? Or do they consider us to be remiss in not taking the family of the Prophet as gods to be worshipped along with Allaah, as they do?

Without a doubt, responsiveness to each other is essential if two parties are to achieve a mutual "coming together", reconciliation and understanding. This mutual responsiveness can only come about if there are sincere efforts on both sides to achieve it.

As stated above, there is a "reconciliation" centre in Egypt, a Sunni country; there are also propaganda offices, which wage hostile campaigns against those who do not favour such centres. One might well question the absence of such centres or their like in any Shi'ite country. One also may question why Al-Azhar University has included instruction in the Shi'ite school of thought, while the Sunni schools of thought are still locked out of the Shi'ite educational institutions.

If the call to reconciliation is restricted to one of the concerned parties alone, then the efforts spent on such a call will be futile. Finally, one may question the value of beginning the process of reconciliation by attending to differences of a minor or secondary nature, while fundamental differences have not yet been addressed.7

ISLAAMIC JURISPRUDENCE
The jurisprudence of the Sunnis differs from that of the Shi'ites even in the fundamentals upon which the law is based. Yet unless and until the fundamentals are understood and endorsed by both parties, and until there is a favourable response to this from the religious institutions of both sides, it would be useless to waste time dealing with issues of a minor or secondary nature. In fact, it is not merely in the fundamentals of jurisprudence that there are differences, but also, and more importantly, in the fundamental articles of faith of each party, even in their deepest roots and origins.

THE QUESTION OF TAQIYYAH
One of the main obstacles to their receiving a positive response from us is their tenet of taqiyyah (deception), by the application of which, they reveal to us other than what they have in their hearts. The simple-minded Sunni is deceived by their pretentious display of 'the desire to overcome our differences and reach a common under- standing between them and us. In fact, they neither want such a thing nor approve of it.

They do not strive for it, but rather leave it to the other party to come the full distance to their position, without exerting an effort to make any move from their side. Even if those Shi'ites who practice taqiyyah were to convince us that they have moved a few steps in our direction, then the multitude of Shi'ites, be they ordinary people or the scholarly elite, would stand apart from those who adopted the ruse of objectivity towards us, and they would not recognise them as their representatives; this because their actual belief does not permit them to reconcile themselves with us.

SHI'ITE ATTACK ON THE NOBLE QUR’AAN
The Qur’aan should be the comprehensive reference for both Sunnis and Shi'ites, and a means of bringing about unity and mutual understanding, but it has been misinterpreted by the Shi'ites and given a meaning other than that which was understood by the noble Companions who received it directly from the Prophet, and other than that which was understood by the Imams of Islaam who received it from the very generation amongst whom the Qur’aan descended by way of Divine Revelation.

One of the most famous and respected Shi'ite scholars, from Najaf, Mirza Hussain bin Muhammad Taqi An-Nawari At-Tabarsi, wrote in 1292 A.H. the book faslul-Khitaab fee Ithbatti Tahreefi Kitaab Rabbil-Arbaab (The Decisive Say on the Proof of Alteration of the Book of the Lord of Lords). In this book he compiled hundreds of texts written by Shi'ite scholars in different eras alleging that the Qur’aan has been tampered with, that there have been both additions to it and omissions from it.

At-Tabarsi's book was printed in Iran, in 1298 A.H., and its appearance attracted much attention, frustrating the intention of certain Shi'ites that their doubts about the authenticity of the Qur’aan should be restricted to the elite of religious scholars and personalities. They preferred that these allegations not be brought together in a single volume, and widely disseminated, as their opponents could use it as a proof against them.

When the scholars made public their criticism, At-Tabarsi responded with another book entitled Raddu ba'dush-Shubahaati 'an Faslil- Khitaabi fee Ithbatti Tahreefi Kitaabi Rabbil-Arbaab (Refutation of Some Specious Arguments Regarding the Decisive Say on the Proof of Alteration of the Book of the Lord of the Lords). He wrote this defence of his original book two years before his death. In order to show their appreciation of his contribution to the attempt to prove that the Qur’aan had been altered, the Shi'ites buried him in one of their most prominent religious shrines, at Najaf.

Among the proofs offered by At-Tabarsi in his attempt to show that the Qur’aan had been altered, was a quotation from what the Shi'ites consider to be a missing part of the Qur’aan, called by them Suratul-Wilaayah (see the following page). It mentions the granting of wilaayah (sovereignty) to 'Ali 8 as follows: "O believers, believe in the Prophet and the wali, the two whom We sent to guide you to the straight path..." Photocopy of the so-called Suratul-wilaayah which the Shi'ites accuse the Sunni Muslims of deleting it along with other surahs from the original text of the Holy Qur’aan.

It reads:
“O you who believe, believe in the prophet and the wali, the two whom We sent to guide you to the straight path. A prophet and wali who are of each other. And celebrate the praise of your Lord, and Ali is among the witnesses."

SHI'ITE LIES, EVEN AGAINST 'ALI
The foregoing is an example of the Shi'ite lies which were attributed 'Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) that it is a slanderous fabrication is proven by the fact that 'Ali never declared, during the whole period of his caliphate, that a third of the Qur’aan was missing from the section mentioned above. He did not command the Muslims to record this "missing" portion, nor to seek guidance from it, nor to apply jurisprudential rulings derived from it.

REJOICING OF THE MISSIONARIES AND ORIENTALISTS
Upon the publication of the book Faslul-Kitaab over eighty years ago, there was great rejoicing amongst the enemies of Islaam, in particular, the missionaries and orientalists. They liked the book so much that they decided to translate it into their own languages. It is no wonder, since it contained hundreds of lies such as those mentioned above, along with slanderous fabrications against Allaah and the choicest of His creation, the Holy Prophet of Islaam (upon whom be peace), and against the venerable Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them all). 13

There are two clear texts from Al-Kaafi of Al-Kulaini, which elucidate the Shi'ites' perverse position regarding the Qur’aan. The first reads: I heard Abu Jafar (upon whom be peace) say: "None of the people has claimed that he collected the Qur’aan completely as it was revealed except a liar. No one collected and memorised the Qur’aan as it was revealed except 'Ali bin Abi Taalib and the Imams after him. 14

Every Shi'ite is required to believe in this text from Al-Kaafi as an article of their faith. As for us, Ahlus-Sunnah, we say that in fact the Shi'ites have falsely attributed the above text to Al-Baaqir Abu Ja'far. The proof of our position is that 'Ali, during the period of his caliphate in Kufah, never resorted to or applied any version of the Qur’aan other than that with which Allaah had favoured the Caliph 'Uthmaan by the distinction of its collection, publication and popularisation and by its legal application in all Islaamic lands for all time up to the Day of Judgement.

If it were true that 'Ali had a different version of the Qur’aan he surely would have applied it in making legal rulings, and he would have commanded the Muslims to abide by its injunctions and guidance. Clearly, since he was the supreme ruler, none would have challenged his authority to do this. Furthermore, if indeed 'Ali had a different version of the Qur’aan and concealed it from the Muslims, then he would have betrayed Allaah, His Messenger and the religion of Islaam by so doing.

As for Jaabir Al-Ju'fi who claims that he heard that blasphemous conversation from the Imam Abi la'far Muhammad Al-Baaqir, it must be noted that although the Shi'ites consider him a trustworthy narrator of traditions, the fact is that he is well known in the Sunni schools of theology as a liar and forger of traditions. Abu Yahya Al-Hammani reported that he heard the Imam Abu Hanifa saying, "Ataa' is the best i.e., the most truthful and precise in reporting from amongst those I have come across in the field of transmitting traditions, while Jaabir Al-Ju'fi is the greatest liar I have come across amongst them." 15

The second of the two texts from Al-Kaafi mentioned above, is attributed to the son of Ja'far As-Saadiq. It reads: It is related that Abu Baser said: "I entered upon Abu 'Abdullah [Ja'far As-Sadiq]... [Who] said 'Verily we have with us the Qur’aan of Fatimah (upon whom be peace).' I said: 'What is the Qur’aan of Fatimah?' He replied: 'It contains three times as much as this Qur’aan of yours.

By Allaah, it does not contain one single letter of your Qur’aan'.16 time of Abu Bakr and 'Umar until the present time, are considered usurpers, and oppressors of the people. The Shi'ites tenaciously hold this perverse view of the Muslim rulers regardless of the great services they have rendered to the noble cause of Islaam, and to; humanity in general.

MALICE AGAINST ABU BAKR AND 'UMAR
The Shi'ites curse Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with them), along with all the rulers of the Islaamic Nation, with the exception of 'Ali. They fabricated a lie and attributed it to the Imam Abul Hasan 'Ali bin Muhammad bin 'Ali bin Moosa, claiming that he approved of his followers calling Abu Bakr and 'Umar "Al-Jibt wat-Taaghoot" 18. This claim was made in one of their most extensive works on the science of the ascertation of the veracity and competence of the narrators of Prophetic Traditions, Tanqeehul-Maqaal fee Ahwaalir- Rijaal, by a sheikh of the Ja'fari sect Allama Ath-Thani Ayatullah Al- Mamqaani.'19

Al-Mamqaani referred to the scholar Ash-Sheikh Muhammad bin Idrees Al-Hilli's book As-Saraa'ir, in which Al-Hilli cited the work Massaa'ilur-aijaal wa Mukaatabaatihim ila Mowlaana Abil-Hasan 'Ali bin Muhammad bin 'Ali bin Moosa, the subject of which is questions and letters directed to Abil Hasan 'Ali bin Muhammad. Among them is a question from Muhammad bin 'Ali, who is quoted as saying: I wrote to him asking about ‘ar-naasib’ [one who is hostile to Ahlil-Bait].

I asked him whether I needed proof of his hostility towards Ahlil-Bait other than his recognition of Al-Jibt wat-Taaghoot i.e. office of imam [leader of the Abu Bakr and Umar as the rightful holders of the Muslim community]. His reply was that anyone, whose condition was like that just described, was adequately shown to be a naasib. Thus, any person would be counted as an enemy of the Prophet's family merely by his giving precedence of rank to Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq and 'Umar Al-Farooq, and by his acknowledging their positions as imams.

The expression "Al-Jibt wat-Taaghoot" is used by the Shi'ites in the prayer of imprecation that they call "Du'aa Sanamay Quraish" (imprecation against the two idols of the Quraish). They mean by these expressions, the two caliphs Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them). This vicious Shi'ite prayer of imprecation is mentioned in their book Miftahul-Jinaan; it reads: "O Allaah, bestow Your blessings upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad and upon his family, and curse the two idols of the Quraish, their Al-Jibt wat-Taaghoot, as well as their two daughters..." They are referring to the two Mothers of the Believers, Aa'ishah and Hafsah; the pure and noble wives of the Prophet (may Allaah be pleased with them).

SHI'ITES EXALT THE ASSASSIN OF THE CALIPH 'UMAR
The hatred the Shi'ites have for the Caliph 'Umar reached such a pitch that they gave his murderer Abu Lu'lu'ah Al-Majoosi the title ''Baba Shujaa'ud-Din" (the one who is brave in the cause of religion). 'Ali bin Mathahir, a Shi'ite narrator of traditions, reported that Ahmad bin Ishaq Al-Qummi Al-Ahwas, a sheikh of the Shi'ites, said: "Verily the day Umar was murdered is the greatest day of celebration, the day of pride and honour, the day of the great purification and the day of blessing and consolation."

In the history of Islaam there have been many great personalities, men like the two Caliphs Abu Bakr and 'Umar and the great warrior Salahuddin Al-Ayyoobi, who ruled for the sake of Islaam, and who conquered various lands and peoples and brought them into the fold of Islaam. Yet these great men, and indeed all of the great rulers of Islaam, past and present, are believed by the Shi'ites to be overpowering tyrants and illegal rulers and consequently, are considered to be inhabitants of Hell-Fire.

Among the Shi'ites' most important tenets is the belief that when their Twelfth Imam, the awaited Mahdi, rises and comes forth after his long absence of over eleven hundred years, and brings his revolution, then Allaah will resurrect for him and for his forefathers, the past and present Muslim rulers, including the two noble Caliphs Abu Bakr and 'Umar. Those Muslim rulers will then be tried for having illegally seized the reins of government from the Mahdi and his ancestors, the first eleven Imams of the Shi'ite religion. This, as they believe, is because government is the God-given right of the Shi'ites alone, from the time of the Prophet Muhammad's death until the Final Hour!

After the trial of those "tyrannous usurpers", this awaited Mahdi will awaken himself by ordering their execution. Five hundred of them at a time will be killed until their number reaches three thousand. This; being the total of all who ruled during the various eras of the history of Islaam!

All of this is supposed to occur just before the final revival of mankind on the Day of Resurrection! It is a prelude, as it were, to that final great gathering and resurrection, the result of which is either Paradise or Hell-Fire; Paradise for Ahlul-Bait and the Shi'ites, and the Fire for everyone who is not a Shi'ite! The Shi'ites call this resurrection of the. Muslim rulers, and the subsequent trial and execution, "Ar-Raj'ah" (the return). This belief is one of the fundamental tenets of their faith, which no common Shi'ite doubts at all.

I have met a number of naive and simple-minded people who claim that the Shi'ites have departed from such tenets as these in recent times; however, this is a gross error on their pan a is evident from the actual state of affairs.

DESIRE FOR REVENGE AND DESTRUCTION
In Al-lrshaad fee Taarikhi Hujajillahi 'alal-'lbaad (Instruction in the History of God's Proofs Against His Slaves), Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad An-Nu'man, known to the Shi'ites by the title ''Ash- Sheikhul- Mufeed'', quoted several of their "traditions" about "Ar-Raj'ah'': Al Fadl bin Sha'thaan reported that Muhammad bin 'Ali Al-Koofi related that Wahab bin Hafs narrated through Abi Baseer that Abu 'Abdullah [Ja'far As-Saadiq] said: "The Mahdi will be called upon on the Twenty-third night by the name 'The Risen One’. He will arise, and that rising up will be on the day of 'Ashooraa 20... It is as if I am there with him on that tenth day of the month of Muharram.

He is standing between the comer of the Kaa’bah containing the black stone, and the maqaam [place of prayer] of the Prophet Abraham. The Angle Gabriel is standing to his right calling out, 'The pledge of allegiance to the Mahdi] is for the sake d Allaah!' Then the Shi'ites will march towards the Mahdi to give him the pledge, from all corners of the earth. That having been made easy for them to achieve. There has come to us the report that the Mahdi will ravel from Macca until he arrives al Koota and settles in our [Shi'ite] holy city of Najaf. Then he will dispatch armies from there to the various lands.''

It was also reported, by Al-Hajjaal from Thlaha via Abu Bakr Al- Hadrami that Abu Ja'far [Muhammad Al-Baaqir] said: "It-is as if I am with the Risen One at the city of Najaf, in Al-Koofa which he had marched to from Mecca, in the company of five thousand angels, with Gabriel on his right side, and Michael on his left, and the believers in front of him, while he dispatches armies to the various countries."

So too, it is narrated that 'Abdul-Kareem Al-Ju'fi reported: "I said to Abu 'Abdullah [Ja'far As-Saadiq]: 'How long will the Risen One's reign last?’ ‘Seven years,' he replied. He elaborated: 'The days will grow longer, till a year of his reign equals ten of your years. His reign will last for seventy years of your reckoning.' Upon this, Abu Baseer said to him [i.e., to Ja'far As-Saadiq]: 'May I be your ransom! How will Allaah make the years longer?' The reply was: 'Allaah will command the celestial spheres to decrease in their speed of movement, and the days and years will consequently become longer. When the time of his rising up arrives, rain will fall during the last month of Jumada and for ten days of Rajab, a rain that the world has never seen before. Allaah shall cause the flesh of believers and their bodies to come to life in their graves. It is as if I am seeing the resurrected ones coming forward, shaking the soil out of their hair."'

'Abdullah bin Al-Mugheera narrated that Abu 'Abdullah [Ja'far As-Saadiq] said: "If the awaited Mahdi from the family of Muhammad rises, he will cause to be raised up five hundred members of Quraish, and their necks would be struck by the sword. They would be followed by another set of five hundred, and yet another, until that recurred six times." "Would they reach that great number?" I asked. [His astonishment upon hearing that great number was due to the fact that the rightly-guided Caliphs, the Umayyad rulers and those of the Abbasi era, along with all the Muslim rulers up until the time of Ja'far As-Saadiq do not amount to a hundredth of that number.] Ja'far As- Saadiq replied: "Yes; it includes the rulers and their supporters." And in another narration: "Verily, our state is the last of the states. There would be no dynasty but that which has had its turn before us, so that there may be none to witness our reign and say: 'If we were to rule we would follow their path."'

Jaabir Al-Ju'fi reported that Abu 'Abdullah [Ja'far As-Saadiq] said: When the risen Mahdi from the family of Muhammad comes forth he will pitch pavilions to teach therein the Qur’an just as it was revealed. 21 It will be most difficult then for the one who has memorised [that which is memorised] today." [i.e., it would be difficult for the one who memorised the official 'Uthmani edition which was extant at the time of Ja'far As-Saadiq, because it would differ from the version which the Mahdi supposedly will bring.]

SHI'ITES' WAY OF THINKING UNCHANGED
The Shi'ite scholars and clergy throughout the span of Islaamic history have taken a disgraceful stand against the two Companions and appointed ministers of Allaah's Prophet, Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and against other great Islaamic personalities such as the Caliphs, governors, generals, and warriors in the sacred cause of Islaam. Now we have heard their propagandist, who was responsible for Darut-Taqreeb (the centre for the promotion of "reconciliation" and a "coming together" of Sunnis and Shi'ites), claiming before those who were unable to critically study these issues themselves, that these beliefs were held in the old days, and that the situation now is different.

This claim is plainly false and misleading, because the books which are taught in all of their educational institutions contain all of these tenets and hold them as essential and rudimentary elements of their faith. Furthermore, the books presently being published by the scholars of Iran, Najaf and Mount 'Aamil are even more evil than the older Shi'ite publications, and more detrimental to the cause of reconciliation and mutual understanding.

To further clarify this we mention as an example one person amongst them who never ceases announcing day and night that he is a proponent of unity and reconciliation, Muhammad bin Muhammad Mahdi Al-Khaalisi. He is known to have many friends in Egypt and elsewhere who broadcast the same call for taqreeb, and who work for it among the Ahlus-Sunnah. This supposed advocate of "unity and understanding" goes so far as to deny that Abu Bakr and 'Umar possessed the grace of imaan (faith).

In his book Ihyaa'ush-Sharia fee Madhhabish-Shi'ah (Revival of the Law in the Shi'ite School of Thought), he says: Even if they [Sunnis] argue that Abu Bakr and 'Umar were among the people of Bai'atur-Ridwan22 with which Allaah was pleased, as shown by the reference made to them in the Qur’aan: "Verily Allaah was pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance to you (Muhammad) beneath the tree" , we say that if Allaah had said: "Verily Allaah was pleased with those who swore allegiance to you beneath the tree" 23, then the verse would indicate that Allaah's pleasure included everyone who made the pledge of allegiance. Since the verse says: "Verily Allaah was pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance.. . ", there is therefore no proof in this verse that

way of illustration, it will suffice to list some of the chapter headings from Al-Kaafi:
:black_small_square: "The Imams possess all the knowledge granted to angels, prophets and messengers" 25
:black_small_square: "The Imams know when they will die, and they do not die except by their own choice" 26
:black_small_square: "The Imams have knowledge of whatever occurred in the past and whatever will happen in the future, and nothing is concealed from them" 27
:black_small_square: "The Imams have knowledge of all the revealed books, regardless of the languages in which they were revealed" 28
:black_small_square: "No one compiled the Qur’aan completely except the Imams, and they encompass all of its knowledge'' 29
:black_small_square: "Signs of the prophets are possessed by the Imams" 30
:black_small_square: "When the Imams' time comes, they will rule in accordance with the ruling of the Prophet David and his dynasty. These Imams will not need to ask for presentation of evidence before passing their judgements" 31
:black_small_square: "There is not a single truth possessed by a people save that which originated with the Imams, and everything which did not proceed from them is false"
:black_small_square: "All of the earth belongs to the Imams" 32

THE SHI'ITES PLACE THEIR IMAMS ABOVE THE MESSENGER
While the Shi'ites claim for the Twelve Imams the superhuman power of knowledge that encompasses the realm of the unseen, they deny the Prophet's knowledge of unseen things granted him by Allaah, things such as the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the description of Paradise and Hell-Fire. This blasphemy was stated in the magazine Risalatul-lslam (The Message of. Islaam), published by Darut-Taqreeb.

In an article entitled Min Ijtihaadati Shi'a Al-lmamia (Some Independent Shi'ite Opinions), the head of the Shi'ite Supreme Court in Lebanon quoted the Mujtahid scholar Muhammad Hasan Al-lshtiyani: If the Prophet made a stipulation regarding the divine legal rulings on what invalidates ablution, or the rulings pertaining to menstruation and post-natal bleeding, it is imperative to believe him, and the application of these rulings is binding upon us. But if the Prophet made a statement regarding the unseen, for example on the creation of the heavens and earth, or the virgins of Paradise and its palaces, then it is not incumbent or binding upon one, even when it is known of a surety that the statement has proceeded from the Prophet.

How strange, that they should falsely attribute to their Imams knowledge of the unseen, and that they should adhere to that falsehood although they have not a single proof to establish its verity. Meanwhile they consider that they are not bound to accept the revelations of the unseen mentioned in verses of the Qur’aan and authentic traditions, and thereby conclusively proven. Add to all this that everything which has been verified to issue from the Prophet is nothing other than "revelation revealed" to him; and truly the Prophet does not speak from his own desires.

He who makes a comparison between what the Shi'ites ascribe to their Imams and what is authentically attributed to the Prophet regarding matters of the unseen comes to the conclusion that what can be verified to issue from the Prophet regarding the unseen, as mentioned in the Qur’aan and the authentic, authoritative traditions does not even constitute a fraction of the multitude of fabricated reports of knowledge of the unseen which are attributed to the Twelve Imams; and this in spite of the indisputable fact that divine revelation had totally ceased upon the death of the Prophet.

As for those who attributed this knowledge of the unseen to the Twelve Imams, it suffices to say that they are well known to the Sunni scholars of hadith (prophetic traditions) as liars, and forgers of hadeeth literature. The Shi'ite partisans of those narrators are indifferent to this, however, and blindly accept the accounts of the unseen that are imputed to their Imams. They also gladly accept the claim that acceptance of what had been authentically attributed to the Prophet with regard to the unseen is not binding upon them.

In fact, it pleases them to limit the scope of the mission of the Messenger of Allaah to matters of a secondary juristical nature, such as those mentioned by Al-lshtiyani (see above). Since they elevate the status of their Imams, in regard to knowledge of the unseen, above that of the Messenger of Allaah (even though it was he who received the revelation; their Imams did not claim it for themselves), we do not know how there could develop, after such blasphemy, any reconciliation between them and us.

SHI'ITE TREACHERY TOWARDS ISLAAMIC GOVERNMENTS
The stance of most Shi'ites, scholars and laymen alike, towards the Islamic governments throughout history has been, if the government was powerful and well established, to honour its leaders in consonance with their tenet of taqiyah, for the purpose of material gain. If, however, the government is weak, or is under attack by enemies, they side with its enemies against it. This is precisely what they did during the last days of the Umayyad dynasty when the Abbasids revolted, under the instigation of the Shi'ites of that era. In a later time, they took the same criminal stand against the Abbasids who were threatened by the raids of Hulago and his pagan Mongol followers against the Caliphate of Islam and its glorious capital of science and civilisation.

An example of this is seen in the behaviour of the Shi'ite philosopher and scholar An-Naseer At-Toosi. He composed poetry in praise of Al-Musta'sim, the Abbasid Caliph, then in 65 A.H. executed a complete turn about, instigating revolution against his patron, thereby hastening the catastrophe which befell Islaam in Baghdad, where he headed the butcher Hulago's blood-letting procession. In fact he personally supervised the slaughter of Muslims, sparing none, not even women, children, or the aged. This same At-Toosi also approved of wholesale dumping of valuable texts of Islaamic literature in the Tigris River; its waters ran black for days from the ink of the innumerable manuscripts.

Thus vanished a great treasure of the Islaamic heritage consisting of works in history, literature, language and poetry, not to mention those in the Islaamic religious sciences, which had been passed down from the pious of the first generation of Muslims, and which could be found in abundance until that time when they were destroyed in a cultural holocaust the like of which had never been seen before.

THE TREACHERY OF AL-'ALQAMI AND IBN ABIL-HADEED
This sheikh of the Shi'ites, An-Naseer At-Toosi, was assisted in this great treachery by two of his cohorts, Muhammad bin Ahmad Al -'AIqami, a Shi'ite minister of state, and 'Abdul-Hameed bin Abil-Hadeed, a Mu'tazilite author and extremist Shi'ite 33. He was Al-'Alqami's righthand man and proved to be a bitter enemy of the Companions of he Messenger of Allaah, as is evident from his malicious commentary on the book Nahjul-Balaaha, which he filled with lies in order to distort Islaamic history.

Unfortunately, a number of our distinguished figures and authors continue to be deceived by such lies due to their ignorance of the essential facts of Islaamic history. Al-'Alqami responded to Caliph Al-Musta'sim's kindness and generosity in making him his minister, with deception and treachery.

Shi'ites to this day maliciously rejoice at Hulago's vicious campaign of slaughter and destruction, out of sheer animosity towards Islaam. Anyone who wishes can read about the life of An-Naseer At-Toosi in any Shi'ite book of biographies, the latest of which is Rowdaatul lannaat by Al-Khuwansari. It is full of praise for the treacherous murderers, and reflects the Shi'ites' malicious rejoicing al that disastrous massacre of Muslim men, women and children. It was a monstrous act, which even the worst of enemies and the most hardhearted beasts would be ashamed to show pleasure in.

AN IMPEDIMENT TO RECONCILIATION
The exposition has become somewhat lengthy although great care has been taken to restrict the subject matter wholly to quotations selected from the Shi'ites' most authentic and dependable publications. We would like to conclude with a quotation pertaining to the subject of at-taqreeb (reconciliation of the followers of the various schools and sects), in order to clarify for every Muslim what the actual possibilities for success are regarding such an endeavour, especially in regard to the Shi'ites who have expressed their own frank acknowledgement of the impossibility of such an attempt at reconciliation.

In his book Rowdaat lannaat, the Shi'ite historian Al-Khuwansari wrote of the "elegant and truthful utterances" of An-Naseer At-Toosi, "this source of truth and verification", and quoted his statement identifying the one and only sect of the seventy-three Muslim sects34 that, according to prophecy, would achieve salvation: I have considered all the sects and scrutinised them closely, only to find that all, save the Imamers, subscribe to the same general conditions of imaan, while they differ only on some related issues. I discovered that the Imamer sect differs from and is opposed to all the others. If any sect other than the Imamers is considered "saved" then they all must be so considered. This indicates to me that the one sect, who is to achieve salvation, is none other than the Imamers.

SALVATION CANNOT BE ATTAINED WITHOUT PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE AND GRANTING SOVEREIGNTY TO AHLIL-BAIT
Al-Khuwansari also related that As-Sayyid Ni'matullah Al-Moosawi said: All of the sects unanimously agree that bearing witness to one's faith by recitation of the two articles of faith is the only way to salvation, as proved by the statement of Allaah's Messenger: 'Whoever bears witness that there is no God but Allaah enters Paradise." But as for the Imamer sect they unanimously agree that salvation is attained only by granting allegiance and entrusting the government to Ahlil-Bait, the last of whom is the Twelve Imam, and by disowning their enemies[ i.e., Abu Bakr, 'Umar and all non-Shi'ites, whether they were rulers or subjects]. Thereby Shi'ites differ entirely from all the other sects with regards to the nature and prerequisites of imaan, upon which the issue of salvation devolves.

SHI'ITES DIFFER WITH MUSLIMS IN FUNDAMENTALS, NOT ONLY IN THE SECONDARY ISSUES
At-Toosi, Al-Moosa and Al-Khuwansari have both told the truth, and lied. They have told the truth in saying that all the Muslim sects are close to each other in fundamentals while they differ on secondary issues. Thus mutual understanding and a "coming together" are possible among those sects that are fundamentally akin to each other. On the other hand it is impossible to achieve such a mutual understanding with the Shi'ite Imamers because they are in opposition to the fundamentals of all other Muslims. They will never be pleased with the Muslims unless they curse "Al-jibt wat-Taaghoot'' (Abu Bakr and 'Umar), and those who came after them up until the present time.

Another condition they would impose on Muslims is that they disown all non-Shi'ites, and even those members of the family of the Prophet who were given in marriage to them, such as the two daughters of the Prophet who married the Caliph 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan. They further stipulate that Muslims must also disown the Imam Zaid, son of 'Ali Zain-ul 'Abideen (the son of Al-Hussain, son of 'Ali bin Abi Taalib) along with the rest of the family of the Prophet who did not enter the ranks under the banner of the Rafidites 35, and who did not accept their deviated tenets.

Amongst these perverse tenets is their claim that the Qur’aan has been tampered with; a doctrine fanatically adhered to by all classes of the Shi'ite society throughout the ages, as their own astute scholar At-Tabirsi has so boldly recorded in his book hslul-Khitaabi fee Ithbatti Tahreefi Kitaab Rabbil-Arbaab.

The Shi'ites would like to force upon us as a precondition to reaching a mutual understanding with them, and to please them, for the purpose of "coming closer" to them, that we curse along with them the Companions of Allaah's Messenger, and that we disown everyone who does not adhere to the doctrines of the Shi'ite faith. They even expect us to disown the daughters of Allaah's Messenger, and his blessed descendants, the foremost of whom is Zaid bin Zain-ul 'Abideen, along with anyone who followed in his footsteps in rejecting the abominations of the Rafidites . 'Askari. They would no longer be Imamers because there was no Imam to succeed al-'Askari to the Imamate.

THE TALE OF THE DOOR AND THE TUNNEL
Upon this, one of them, Muhammad bin Nusair, a protege of the tribe of Numair, invented the idea that Al-Hasan had a son who was hidden in the tunnels of his father's residence. The impetus for such a fabrication came from his desire, and that of his accomplices, to deceive the Shi'ite public, especially the affluent among them, to collect Zakaah 37 from them in the name of an existing Imam. They also wished to continue claiming that they were sincere Imamers. 

This Muhammad bin Nusair wanted himself to be the "door" to the imaginary tunnel between the invented Imam and his followers, in order to take charge of all Zakaah funds. His accomplices disagreed with him in this plot and insisted on appointing as the "door" a grocer whose shop was adjacent to the entrance of Al-Hasan Al-'Askari's house. Hasan's father and family used to purchase from this grocer their household needs.

After this, Muhammad Nusair broke away from his former comrades and established the Nusairiyyah sect, which takes its name and impetus from him 38. In the meantime, his former accomplices were devising a stratagem whereby they could bring forth their supposed Imam; they wanted him to marry and have sons who would succeed him to the office of the Imamate. This in turn would ensure that their Imamer sect would live on. It became evident, however, that the heads of the Alawi clans as well as their followers and their cousins, the Abbasid rulers and royalty would deny his appearance.

They therefore alleged that the Twelfth Imaam remained in the tunnel; that his minor absence was followed by a major one; and so carried on with such fables as were never heard before, even among the ancient Greeks. They expect all Muslims, whom Allaah blessed with the grace of sound reason, to believe in such blatant lies in order that there may be reconciliation between them and the Shi'ites.

This preposterous idea could only be realised if the whole Islaamic world were to turn into a Lunatic asylum. Praise is to Allaah for the gift of reason, for indeed it is the faculty upon which the responsibility for one's actions depends. It is the most precious and sublime of graces after that of sound imaan.

THE CONCEPT OF PLEDGING ALLEIGIANCE ACCORDING TO THE MUSLIMS
Muslims entrust the position of leadership and the government to any mu'min (believer) with correct imaan. Thus they would pledge allegiance to all pious members of Ahlil-Bait, without any restriction as to their number or persons. Amongst the foremost of the believers to whom they would entrust the reins of leadership were the ten Companions who were given the glad tidings of their abode in Paradise.

If there were no other factor by reason of which the Shi'ites acquired the designation of kaafirs (disbelievers), then their contradiction and denial of the Prophet's designation of those ten Companions as inhabitants of Paradise would have sufficed 39 The Muslims also would entrust the rest of the Companions with leadership, and would grant them full support and allegiance, for it was these noble personages upon whose shoulders was erected Islaam and the Islaamic world, and truth and goodness sprang forth from the soil of the Islaamic nation which had been nourished by their precious blood.

These are the Companions whom the Shi'ites claimed were enemies of 'Ali and his sons, while actually they lived with 'Ali as loving, co-operative brothers and died as such. What could be greater proof of this than the description Allaah gives of them in Suratul Fath, from His book which falsehood cannot approach from before or behind He, the Almighty, said regarding the Companions, that they are "severe with the disbelievers, merciful amongst themselves."

Allaah also says about them, in Suratul Hadeed, "Unto Allaah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth. Those of your companions] who spent [For the sake of Allaah] and fought [in His cause] before the Victory are not on the same level you. Such are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Unto each Allaah has promised good." And does Allaah ever break His promise? In Suratu Aali-lmraan Allaah the Exalted referred to the Companions as 'the best of peoples raised up for mankind", i.e., as an example to be followed.

FRIENDSHIP AND AFFECTION AMONG THE RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS
Due to the love and respect, which the commander of the Faithful Ali bin Abi Taalib held for his three brethren caliphs, he named three of his sons after them. He also gave his eldest daughter Umm-Kulthoom in marriage to 'Umar IbnulKhattaab. In addition, we see that 'Abdullah bin Ia'hr bin Abi Taalib,'Ali's nephew) named one of his sons Abu Bakr, and the other one Mu'aawiyah. Mu'aawiyah bin 'Abdullah named his son after Yazeed bin Mu'aawiyah bin Abu Sufyaan, who was considered to be of good repute, according to the testimony of Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah bin 'Ali bin Abu Taalib.

WHY WE MUST RID OURSELVES OF ANY CONNECTION WITH THE SHI'ITES
If the repudiation and denunciation which Shi'ites are now asking of us, as the price for reconciliation between us and them, includes those whom they have demanded it include (Abu Bakr, 'Umar, etc.) then he whom they consider to be their first Imam, 'Ali bin Abi Taalib, should be considered blameworthy by them, by virtue of his naming his sons after Abu Bakr, 'Umarand 'Uthmaan, and by his giving his daughters in marriage to 'Umar and 'Uthmaan. Furthermore, they must consider Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah a liar when he testified to the good character of Yazeed, if they accept the claim of 'Abdullah bin Mutee, a supporter of Ibnuz-Zubair, that Yazeed drank liquor and neglected prayer, and exceeded the bounds established by Allaah's Book.

Muhammad bin Al Hanafiyyah defended Yazeed, saying have not witnessed what you mention. I visited him and stayed with him. He was regular in observing prayers and in performing good deeds, seeking religious knowledge and adhering to the Sunnah." Ibn Mutee and those accompanying him replied that Yazeed's behaviour was out of pretence in his presence.

Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah re- joined: "What was it that he feared or hoped from me that he should appear before me in such a state of piety and humility?" He continued, "Did he confide in you that which you mention regarding his drinking of wine if he did so then you are his accomplices. And if he did not, then it is unlawful for you to bear witness to that of which you have no knowledge." They replied that although they did not see him drinking, yet "we believe that to be the truth." Muhammed’s reply to them was that Allaah rejects this kind of testimony from Muslims, for He says in His Book: "... except those who bear witness to the truth and with full knowledge." 40

Muhammad concluded, "Therefore, I have nothing to do with this affair..."41 Since the foregoing is what the son of 'Ali bin Abi Taalib has testified to in favour of Yazeed bin Mu'aawiyah, then where does his fit in relation to the position the Shi'ites want us to adopt with them against Yazeed's father, Mu'aawiyah, and against those who are better than him and better than the whole creation 42, that is, Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthmaan, Talha, Az-Zubair, Amrubnul-'Aws, along with the rest of the great Companions who memorised and preserved for us Allaah's Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and who were the architects of the Islaamic world.

The price demanded of us by the Shi'ites for reconciliation with them is exorbitant. We lose everything by agreeing to it, while we gain nothing in return. It is only a fool who would deal with someone whom he knows would expect him to accept a losing bargain! The two concepts of walaayah (granting of allegiance) and baraa (repudiation and denunciation) upon which the Shi'ite religion is based, according to what has been affirmed by An-Naseer At-Toosi and confirmed by Ni'matullah Al-Moosawi and Al-Khuwansari, mean nothing except a complete alteration of the religion of Islaam.

This complete change would require of us enmity towards those upon whose shoulders were erected the very structure of Islaam.The Shi'ites have lied when they said that their sect is the only one to be granted salvation, the one whose condition and state differs from all of the rest, by virtue of which they alone would be saved.

The fact is that the impossibility of reconciliation between the Sunni sects on one side and Shi'ites on the other is due to the latter's disagreement with and contradiction of the rest of the Muslims in the very fundamentals of faith, as we have seen from the declarations of the Shi'ite scholars, and as can be seen from the beliefs and practices of every Shi'ite. This was the state of affairs in the past, and it is the state of affairs at the present time.

SHI'ITES PREFER PROPAGATION OF THEIR SECTARIAN TENETS TO TAQREEB
Without any doubt the Shi'ite Imamers themselves do not want taqreeb, which is why they have made many sacrifices and suffered great pains in propagating the call for reconciliation and elimination of differences in our Sunni countries, while forbidding that such a call be raised, or allowed to proceed at all, in the Shi'ite countries. Nor do we see a hint of the influence of such a call on their educational institutions. In other words, the call to reconciliation has been restricted to one side, and as a result, every effort towards this cause will be futile, and a mere frivolous mockery, unless and until the Shi'ites categorically refrain from cursing and abusing Abu Bakr and 'Umar; unless they cease repudiation and denunciation of anyone who was not, or is no presently, a Shi'ite partisan; and unless they rid themselves totally of their perverse concept of raising the pious Imams of the Prophet's family from the level of human beings to that of the gods of the pagan Greeks.

All of this is no less than an outrageous injustice against Islaam and a diversion of it from the path and the goal to which it was directed by the Prophet to whom was entrusted the Islaamic shari'ah (divinely revealed law), and by his noble Companions amongst whom were 'Ali bin Abi Taalib and his offspring. If the Shi'ites do not totally abandon such an outrage against Islaam and its articles of faith, and its history, then they are doomed to remain isolated from and rejected by all of the Muslims.43

THE INTRIGUE OF BAABISM AND BAHAISM AND THE ENSUING UPHEAVAL IN IRAN
The upheaval of Baabism and its offshoot, Bahaism, struck Iran over a hundred years ago. Muhammad 'Ali Ash-Shiraazi had begun by claiming that he was the Baab (precursor) to the awaited Mahdi. He later claimed that he himself was the Mahdi, and in time he gained a sizeable group of followers. The Iranian government chose to exile him to Azerbaijan, the home of Sunnis of the Hanafi School of jurisprudence. Being strict Sunnis, they were considered immune to the influence of such fabulous nonsense. It was, however, only logical to fear that Shi'ites would respond to Ash-Shiraazi's call, since his invention was derived from Shi'ism. For that reason, he was not exiled to a Shi'ite area, whose inhabitants would be only too willing to accept such fables. In spite of such precautions, a large number of Shi’ites became Ash-Shiraazi's followers, and thus their developed and ever widening circle of commotion and disorder.

FROM SHI'ISM TO COMMUNISM
Just as the Shi'ite fables and myths were a factor in the appearance and spread of Babism and Bahaism in the past century. So now they can be seen to be a cause of the rejection of Shi'ism by some of the educated Shi'ite youth, in favour of communism. They have awakened to the realisation that many Shi'ite beliefs are too ridiculous to he credible, and as a result they have utterly rejected them. Many were drawn to various communist organisations, with their energetic propagandists, books in various languages, and efficiently run centres.

These young people were an easy prey, and fell readily into the trap. Had they known the religion of Islaam in its original pure state, and acquired a proper knowledge of it, they would have been protected from such a fate. Instead, we find that communism has thrived, especially in Iran and in the Shi'ite areas of Iraq. More communists are to be found in those communities than can be found in any other Muslim community.

This concludes what circumstances have allowed me to present by way of fulfilling the covenant that Allaah has taken from the Muslims, by which we pledge to give good counsel and a word of caution to all Muslims, solely for the sake of Allaah. Allaah protects and preserves His religion, His nation of believers, and our great Islaamic identity and existence.

AN OUTLINE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SUNNIS AND THE SHI'ITES, IN MATERS OF FAITH AND DOCTRINE

THE GLORIOUS QUR’AAN
Sunnis
There is unanimous agreement among them regarding its authenticity, and its text being, safeguarded from any additions or deletions. The Qur’aan is to be understood in consonance with the rules and bases of the Arabic language. They believe in every single letter of it, it being the word of Allaah the Exalted. The Qur’aan is neither temporal nor newly created but is eternal. Falsehood does not approach it from before it or behind it. It is the primary source of all the Muslims' tenets of faith, their rites and rules of conduct.

Shi'ites
To some of them, the Qur’aan authenticity is doubtful, and if it appears to contradict any of their sectarian beliefs or doctrines, then they give the Qur’aanic text strange, far-fetched interpretations that agree with their sectarian views. For that reason they are called Al Mutawwilah (those who give their own interpretations to the revealed texts). They love to draw attention to the discord that occurred at the time when the Qur’aan was first compiled. The views and opinions of their Imams are the primary source of their jurisprudence.

AHAADEETH (THE PROPHETIC TRADITIONS)
Sunnis
For the Sunnis, it is the second source of revealed law, complementary to the Noble Qur’aan. It is not permissible to contradict or reject the rulings and directives contained in those ahaadeeth that are reliably attributed to the Prophet (may Allaah's blessings and peace be upon him). The methodology applied in determining the authenticity of these traditions utilizes a set of stringent rules agreed upon by the scholars who specialize in this field, and involves a detailed analysis of the chain of transmitters of any given tradition. No distinction is made between male and female narrators; judgement is made solely on the basis of individual trustworthiness and technical ability in relating traditions, and every narrator's history is recorded. No tradition is accepted from a known liar, or from one whose morals or scholarly ability were not corroborated, or from anyone, merely on the basis of his family connection or lineage. The compilation of the Prophetic Traditions is taken to be a sacred Trust, the fulfilment of which overrides all other considerations.

Shi’ites
The Shi'ites reject all Prophetic Traditions that were not related by members of Ahlul-Bait, or their descendants. The only exception to this rule is their acceptance of a few ahaadeeth narrated by those who sided with 'Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) in his political wars They do not attend to the authenticity and soundness of the chain of narrators, nor do they approach the study of the Prophetic Traditions with a scientific, critical attitude. Their narration’s often appear in a form like that of the following example: "It has been reported regarding Muhammad bin Isma'eel by way of some of our friends through a man who transmitted it from him ['Ali] that he said..."49 Their books are filled with hundreds of thousands of traditions whose authenticity cannot be confirmed. They have built their religion specifically upon these spurious texts while outright rejecting over three quarters of the authentic Prophetic Traditions. This is one of the main differences between the Shi'ites and the Sunnis.

THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET
Shi’ites
They charge that all save a few of the Companions had turned apostate after the death of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). On the other hand, they grant the Companion 'Ali bin Abi Taalib a very special status; some of them consider him vicegerent, and some view him as a prophet, while others take him for a god! Shi'ites pass judgement on Muslims in accordance with their position with regards to 'Ali. Whoever was elected caliph before 'Ali is held by them to be a tyrant, an apostate or a sinner. The same judgement is passed on every Muslim ruler who did not step down for any of the descendants of 'Ali and his wife Fatimah (may Allaah be pleased with them). The Shi'ites have thus created an atmosphere of animosity throughout the history of Islaam, and the question of partisanship of Ahlil-Bait developed into a school of thought that preached and perpetuated such detrimental teachings down through the generations. step down for any of the descendants of 'Ali and his wife Fatimah (may Allaah be pleased with them). The Shi'ites have thus created an atmosphere of animosity throughout the history of Islaam, and the question of partisanship of Ahlil-Bait developed into a school of thought that preached and perpetuated such detrimental teachings down through the generations.

Sunnis
It is unanimously agreed that the noble Companions deserve our utmost respect, and are absolutely trustworthy. As for the discord that occurred among them, it is to be considered as the consequence of the sincere exercise of personal conviction and opinion. The discord was resolved and is a thing of the past. It is not permissible for us to hold, on the basis of past differences among the Companions, grudges and ill will that continue for generations. The Companions are those whom Allaah has described in the best of terms; He has praised them upon many occasions. It is not lawful for anyone to make any accusation against them or cast suspicion upon them, and there is no benefit to be derived there from.

BELIEF IN THE ONENESS OF GOD
Sunnis
Sunnis believe that Allaah is the One, the Only, God, the Almighty Subduer. He has no partners or rivals, and He has no equal. There is no intermediary between Him and His worshippers. They believe in His attributes as they were revealed In the Qur’aanic verses, and they do not obscure their obvious meanings with far-fetched Interpretations. They do not strike any comparison between the divine attributes and other things, for as Allaah says in His Book "There is nothing like unto Him." They believe that Allaah sent the Prophets and commissioned them with conveying to mankind His Message and Guidance. They conveyed Allaah's Message and did not conceal any part of it. They believe that the knowledge of the unseen belongs to Allaah alone. Intercession is confined to the Hereafter, and none may intercede except by Allaah's permission. All supplication, vows, offerings of sacrifices and requests for needs are to be directed to God alone; they are not to be directed to any other besides Him. Allaah alone controls good and evil. There is no one, living or dead in His authority or in His administration of affairs. All beings depend on Him, and need His favour and mercy. The knowledge of Allaah is attained through knowledge of divinely revealed law, and this has precedence over the exercise of reason, which might never guide one to the truth, although it may provide reassurance to the believer, and help him to achieve tranquility.

Shi’ites
The Shi'ites also believe in Allaah the Exalted and His Oneness, except that they adulterate this belief with polytheistic rituals and observances. They implore and make supplication to Allaah's slaves and worshippers rather than to Him alone, saying "O Ali! And "O Hussain!" and "O Zainab!" Similarly they make vows and sacrifice beasts in the name of others besides Allaah. They request the dead to fulfil their needs as is shown by their prayers and poems. They consider their Imams to be infallible, to have knowledge of the unseen, and to partake In the administration of the universe. It is the Shi'ites who Invented Sufism (mysticism) to consecrate their deviated tenets and thus give them the air of legitimacy. They claimed that there is special power and authority invested in the "awliyaa"' (mystic saints), "aqtaab" (those considered to be the spiritual axes of the universe, which turns due to their exalted status), and Ahlul-Bait Shi'ite scholars and clergy impressed upon their followers the concept of a hereditary privileged class, as a matter of religion, although this has no foundation in Islaam at all. Knowledge of Allaah is attained, according to them, through the exercise of- reason, not by knowledge of divinely revealed law. That which came to us by way of revelation in the Qur’aan merely represents an affirmation of reason's judgment; it is not considered to be a source that is independent of, and beyond the limits of reason.

SEEING ALLAAH
Sunnis
Sunnis believe that believers will be blessed with the sight of Allaah in the Hereafter, as is mentioned in the Qur’aan: ''On that Day faces of the believers will be resplendent, looking towards their Lord."

Shi’ites
The Shi'ites believe that to see Allaah is not possible in this world nor in the Hereafter.

THE UNSEEN
Sunnis
Allaah the Exalted has reserved knowledge of the unseen for Himself; however, He has revealed to His Prophets some of the affairs and conditions of the unseen, for particular reasons. The Qur’aan says: "And they do not encompass anything of God's knowledge except what He will to reveal thereof.

Shi’ites
They claim that knowledge of the unseen belongs solely to their Imams, and it is not for the Prophet to inform us about the unseen. Some Shi'ites have gone so far as to claim godhead (for those Imams).

AALUR-RSOOL (THE FAMILY OF THE MESSENGER)
(May Allaah be pleased with them all)
Sunnis
Aalur-Rasool, according to the Sunnis, has various meanings. The best single definition of this term is "the followers of the Prophet Muhammad in the faith of Islaam." It is also defined as "the pious and God-fearing people of the Prophet's ummah (nation of believers)." It is also said that the term refers to the believing relatives of Muhammad, from the tribes of Haashim and Abdul-Muttalib.

Shi’ites
According to the Shi'ites the term Aalur-Rasool refers only to 'Ali bin Abi Taalib, to some of his sons, and to the descendants 'of those sons.

THE MEANING OF SHARI'AH AND HAQEEQAH
Sunnis
In the Sunnis' view, the shari’ah (the divinely revealed law) is itself the haqeeqah (the essential knowledge, the reality). They hold that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allaah, did not conceal from his nation of believers any part of that knowledge, contained in the revealed law. There was no good thing that he did not guide us to, and no evil thing that he did not warn us about. Allaah has said 'On this day I have completed your religion. Therefore, ' the sources of the Islaamic faith are Allaah's Book and the Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet, and there is no need to add anything to that. The relationship of the believer with Allaah, and the path to the achievement of good works and worship, are clear and direct. The only one to know the actual condition of the believers is Allaah; so do not pass judgment on the praiseworthiness or purity of anyone, lest we overstep our bounds. The views and opinions of anyone may be accepted or rejected, except or those of the infallible Prophet of Allaah, upon whom is Allaah's blessings and peace.

Shi’ites
The Shi'ites see the shari'ah as being merely the various rulings and directives set forth by the Prophet; they concern the common and superficial folk only. As for the haqeeqah, no one knows it except the Imams of Ahlul Bait. These Imams acquire the sciences of haqeeqah through inheritance, one generation after another. It remains a secret possession among them. Furthermore, the Shi'ites onsider their Imams infallible; their every work and practice is deemed incumbent upon their followers. They believe that one may communicate with God only through intermediaries, and it is for this reason that their religious leaders have such an inflated opinion of themselves, as evidenced by the exaggerated titles they take for themselves, e.g. Baabullah (the door to Allaah), Waliyullah (the friend of Allaah), Hujjatullah, (Allaah's proof), Ayatullah (the sign of Allaah), Al-Ma'soom (the infallible one), etc.

ISLAAMIC JURISPRUDENCE
Sunnis
Ahlus-sunnah adhere strictly to the legal rulings and directives of the Noble Qur’aan, as clarified by the sayings and practices of the Messenger We also depend upon the sayings of the Companions and the generation of trustworthy scholars who followed them. They were the nearest to the Prophet's era and the most sincere in supporting his mission, throughout the tests and trials which had to be endured in the course of establishing Islaam. Since this religion has been completed, no one has the right to formulate new legislation or directives; however, in order to properly understand the details of the revealed law, and to apply it according to new situations and circumstances while keeping in mind the general welfare of the people, one must refer to the qualified Muslim scholars who must work solely within the bounds established by Allaah's Book and the Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allaah's blessings and peace be upon him).

Shi’ites
They depend only on the exclusive sources which they claim for thei Imams: upon their farfetched interpretations of the Qur’aan; and upon their contrary attitude which puts them at odds with the majority of the Muslim peoples. The Shi'ites consider their Imams to be infallible, and to have the right to create new rulings and directives in contradiction to the revealed law.
For example, they have altered:
(a) The call to prayer and the prescribed times and postures of prayers.
(b) The rites of Hajj (pilgrimage) and visitation to the sacred places.
(c) The specified times for beginning and breaking the fast.
(d) The rulings with regards to Zakaah (alms-tax) and its distribution.
(e) The inheritance laws.
The Shi'ites are very particular to take positions in opposition to Ahlus-Sunnah, thus widening the gap between them and us.

Al-WALAA' (OBEDIENCE AND DEVOTION)
Sunnis
Al-walaa means "total adherence, obedience and devotion." The Sunnis believe that it is due only to the Messenger of Allaah, for Allaah says in His Book "Whosoever obeys the Messenger, he has verily obeyed Allaah.'' No other person deserves our strict adherence or our obedience and devotion. Our responsibilities to others are defined by known legal principles, and there is no obedience due to any human being if that entails disobedience to the Creator.

Shi’ites
They view al-walaa' as being one of the pillars of imaan. They define it as the firm belief in the Twelve Imams including the "hidden" Imam). They consider one who does not have strict devotion to Aalul-Bait as one who has no faith. They will not pray behind such a person, nor will they give him Zakaah although he be deserving of it. They would treat such a person as a kaafir.

TAQIYYAH (CALCULATED DECEPTION)
Sunnis
It is defined as presenting an outer appearance that belies what one conceals inside, protecting oneself from harm. It is considered impermissible for a Muslim to deceive other Muslims, because of the Prophet's saying: Whoever deceives is not of us." Resorting to taqiyyah is permitted only in one situation: during war against the disbelievers who are the enemies of Islaam. That is part of the etiquette of war. It is incumbent on the Muslim to be truthful and courageous in upholding the truth, and to be neither ostentatious, nor deceiving, nor treacherous. He should give sincere counsel, enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.

Shi’ites
In spite of the differences among the various Shi'ite sects, they all agree that taqiyyah is a prescribed duty and a pillar of their faith. Their schools of thought could not stand without it. They learn its principles and methods and they practice it, especially if they are in dire circumstances. They exaggeratedly praise and flatter those whom they consider disbelievers, whom they consider deserving of slaughter and destruction. The verdict of kufr is passed on anyone who is not of his or her sectarian school, and for them "the end justifies the means." Their ethics allow every manner of lying, cunning and deception.

GOVERNING THE ISLAAMIC STATE
Sunnis
The state is ruled by a caliph elected to his position of leadership from among the Muslim people. To be leader, a man must be sane, rightly guided and knowledgeable. He should be known for his piety and trustworthiness, and he should be capable of bearing such a responsibility. Those Muslims endowed with knowledge and experience nominates the caliph to his position of leadership. If he does not hold firm to his duty, and deviates from the directives of the Qur’aan, then they may remove him from his position and strip him of all authority. Otherwise, he deserves the obedience and cooperation of every Muslim. The role of caliphate is, to the Sunnis, a great burden and responsibility, not a mere honour or opportunity for exploitations.

Shi’ites
Generally speaking, the right to govern according to Shi'ites, is hereditary, and restricted to 'Ali, and his descendants by Fatimah (the daughter of the Prophet). There is, however, some slight difference among them on the point of the hereditary right as to whom it belongs to. Due to this view of theirs, the Shi'ites are never loyal to any ruler unless he is one of the descendants of 'Ali bin Abi Taalib. When the practice of hereditary leadership vested in the descendants of 'Ali and Fatimah could no longer be maintained, because the line had come to an end, the Shi'ites invented the doctrine of Ar-Raj'ah, according to which the last Imam was not dead, but "hidden". He is expected to arise and return at the end of time, when he will slaughter all of his political opponents, and those of his ancestors, and will restore to the Shi'ites their rights-which were "plundered" by the other sects over the centuries.

FOOTNOTES
1. Related by Abu Dawood and others with an authentic chain of narrators.
2. The invocation is called Du'aa Sanamay Quraish the invocation against the two idols of Quraish, by which the Shi'ites mean the two caliphs of Allaah's Messenger, Abu Bakr and `Umar!.
3. Khomeini, Al-Hukoomat ul-lslamiyyah, pp. 52-53.
4. What Khomeini means here, is that he not only affirms and believes all that is in the Shi'ite book Al-Kaafi, but he also sees it as obligatory to adhere to it and put its rulings and directives into effect in the Shi'ite state.
5. The two terms ‘Ahlus-Sunnah’ (Sunnis) and ‘Shi'ah’ (Shi'ites) need to be defined at this point. Ahlus-Sunnah means literally "people of the established way or path". It refers to the true Muslims, who follow the Sunnah (way) of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allaah, upon the understanding of the Companions. The term Shi'ah is from the phrase shi'atul `Ali (adherents to or company of `Ali), by which this sect is known for reason of its attachment to the idea of the pre-eminence of `Ali ibni Abi Taalib and his descendants.
6. The author's reference to Azhar University's being in the beginning stage of its "mission" requires some comment, as this treatise was written over thirty years ago. Since that time, Al-Azhar has incorporated the study of the Shi'ite "Twelve Imamers" school as a required pan of its curriculum in Islamic Studies. This, along with its call for reconciliation of the various sects and schools of thought, might create the impression of acceptance of the misguided sects such as the Shi'ite Twelve Imamers and the Ismailis. In fact, the only legitimate reason for studying such sects and movements is the hope that such a study will bring to light their real natures, and that consequently, their false doctrines and perverse ideology may be refuted by reference to the authentic sources of Islam, the Holy Qur’aan, the authentic Sunnah, and the example of the Companions of the Prophet (Allaah's blessings and peace be upon him).
7. This kind of "favouritism" has been repeated throughout different eras. It was due to the sending of propagandists claiming such lofty goals of reconciliation that Iraq was converted from a Sunni country containing a Shi'ite minority to a state that is predominantly Shi'ite.
8. "Wali" has several meanings, the relevant ones in this context being the closest friend and associate" and "the one upon whom has been conferred legal authority to rule; vicegerent". The person intended by this term in the quoted passage is obviously `Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet's cousin and the fourth caliph. By forging such a verse the Shi'ite are attempting to give credence to their perverse view that the only legal caliph was `Ali and that the right to the caliphate belongs to Ahlil-Bait (the members of the Prophet's family) alone. This they tried to do by claiming divine revelation as a source of this belief of theirs, so it was expedient to forge a Qur’aanic verse, in order to support their false position.
9. Noeldeke, History of Copies of the Qur’aan, Vol. 2, p. 102.
10. Zanaadiq is the plural of zindeeq, a Persian word meaning one who speaks heresy, or who has deviated from the truth. It is also applied to disbelievers or atheists or freethinkers. (Cf., Lisanul-Arab Vol. 10. p. 147).
11. The meaning of this statement, allegedly made by 'Ali in the course of an argument with an unnamed zindeeq, is obscure, to say the least. We may assume from the context that a discussion or dispute had been taking place between them, 'Ali having been attacked in repudiation of his supposed insistence that he possessed that missing one third of the Qur’aan, which according to Shi'ite belief was deleted by the Companions of the Prophet.
This is a concoction of the Shi'ites, falsely attributed to 'Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him), in order to bolster their attempt to prove the alteration of the Qur’aan. As for the verse cited as proof of deletion from the Qur’aan, there is unanimous agreement among the Sunni commentators on the Qur’aan that, after a careful analysis of the structure of the verse and its context, it may be paraphrased as follows: "If any of you has an orphan girl under his guardianship and he fears that he may not do her justice by granting her an appropriate dowry if he were to marry her, then let him marry other women of his choice." For further details see Ibn Katheer Tafseerul Qur’aan al-'Adheem. Vol. 1, p. 449.
12. By the 'hypocrites", Abu Mansoor At-Tabarsi means the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (Allaah's blessing and peace be upon him), for it was they who collected the Qur’aan, the 'Uthmani version which was adhered to and applied by 'Ali during the period of his caliphate. If the statement attributed to 'Ali in At-Tabarsi's Al-lhtijaaj had really come from him, it would have been treachery against Islam on his part, to possess and conceal some missing portion of the Qur’aan and not make it public, nor apply its principles, nor, circulate it amongst his subjects during the period of his caliphate. Clearly At-Tabarsi has insulted and defamed 'Ali, since what he has written actually implies treachery and deception on 'Ali's part.
13. Muhammad Mahdi Al-Asfahani Al-Kaathini, Ahsanul-Wadee'ah, Vol 2, p. 90.
14. Al-Kulaini, Al-Kaafi, 1278 A.H., p. 54
15. Al Azhar Maazine, 1372 A.H., p. 307.
16. Al-Kulaini, Al-Kaafi, 1278 A.H., p. 75
17. Al-Hazarn, Al Fisal fil Millal wan-Niha1, Vol. 2, p. 78 and Vol. 4, p. 182.
18. Jibt means an idol or a sorcerer, or one who claims to tell the future. Taaghoot is a name applied to any object or person worshipped apart from the one God, Allaah.
19. Al-Mamqaani, lanqeehul-Maqaal fee Ahwaalir-Rijaal, 1352 A.H.,Vo. 1,p207.
20. The day of 'Ashooraa is the tenth day of Muharram of the Muslim lunar calendar and it has great significance for the Shi'ites. It is the culmination of long days of bitter grieving and vicious self-inflicted pain which they observe annually in commemoration of he death of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa salam) who was martyred at Karbala in Iraq.
21. One naturally questions here why his grandfather 'Ali bin Abi Taalib did not do just that during the period of his rule. Is his twelfth generation descendant more sincere than 'Ali in his service of the Qur’aan and Islam?
22. Bai'at ur-Ridwaan is the pledge of allegiance and support by the Companions to the Prophet, with which Allaah was well pleased, as is clearly indicated by the verse revealed regarding it. The pledge was given to the Prophet by a group of approximately fourteen hundred Companions (amongst them Abu Bakr and 'Umar) who had headed out with him towards the Holy City of Mecca, unarmed and intending to perform the rites of the minor pilgrimage to Allaah's sacred house, the Ka'bah, in the sixth year of the Hijrah (emigration of the Prophet and his Companions from Mecca to Medina).
When they arrived at Hudaibia, a small village near Mecca, the tribe of Quraish forbade them entrance to the city and news spread that they had slain the emissary the Holy Prophet had sent to them. Upon this the Prophet (may Allaah's peace and blessings be upon him) took the pledge of allegiance to his cause and for the defence of Islam against the disbelievers in case war should have to be resorted to. See at-Tabari's Tareekhur-Rasul wal-Mulook, Vol. 4, pp. 72-81.
23. Qur’aan, 48:18.
24. Al-Khaalisi has somehow reasoned that by using the word "believers" in this verse, Allaah is implying that some of those who swore allegiance were not believers. Al- Khaalisi concludes from this that the Sunnis are mistaken in using this verse to prove that all those who gave the pledge were believers, and that Allaah was pleased with them. In fact, the only way Al-Khaalisi's interpretation would be credible is if the text read: "... Allaah was pleased with the believers among them, when they swore allegiance to you..."
25. Al-Kulaini, Al-Kaafi,
26. Ibid
27. Ibid
28. Ibid
29. Ibid
30. Ibid
31. Ibid
32. Ibid
33. The Mu'tazilaite sect introduced speculative dogma tics into Islam
34. The concept of the Muslim nation separating into seventy-three sects, is taken from authentic traditions such as the following related by Abu Huraira (may Allaah be pleased with him): "The Messenger of Allaah said: 'The Jews separated into seventy-one sects, and the Christians into seventy-two, and my nation will divide into seventy- three sects." This was recorded in the compilations of Abi-Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and others, with an authentic chain of transmitters. There is also narrated, in the compilations of Abi Dawood, Ad-Darimi, Ahmad and others the statement: "Seventy-two [of the seventy-three sects of the Muslim nation] will be in the fire, and one only will be in Paradise; it is the Jama'ah [i.e. Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah]." In yet another narration the, final statement is: "All of these [sects] will be in the fire except one; it is the Jama'ah." Finally, there is another narration which states: "The Companions asked: 'Which sect will triumph [i.e., achieve salvation]?' The Prophet replied: 'The sect which adheres to that [set of beliefs and practices] which I and my Companions adhere to."' It should be clear from these traditions that the one sect, out of the seventy-three, which is to gain salvation, is the Ahlus-Sunnah, the only segment of the Muslim community that strictly adheres to that which the Holy Prophet and his noble Companions adhered to.
35. The name "Rawaafid" (Rafidites, Rafida) is applied generally, to all the various sects of the Shi'ites, the first of which appeared during 'Ali's time. Among them are the A-Saba'eeah who told 'Ali that he was God, as a result of which he ordered them to be burned to death. Others followed, amongst them the Zaidiah, the Imamiah, and the Keesaaniah. They differ from each other greatly and often we find one denying the imaan of the other. The term rawaafid means literally rejectors, and was first used when the followers of Zaid son of 'Ali Zain-ul-'Abideen, the son of Al-Husain son of 'Ali bin Abi Taalib, demanded that he disown the two caliphs Abu Bakr and 'Umar. Upon hearing their demand Zaid said: "They were both ministers of my grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad], therefore I will not disown them." Hearing this, the followers of Zaid rejected him and parted from him, hence the name Rawaafid (rejecters). It later came to denote all the Shi'ah, who claimed to be partisans of the family of the Prophet Muhammad (Allaah's blessings and peace be upon him).
36. The two shahaadas are the two testifications of faith which are as follows: "I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship but Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah."
37. Zakaah is the obligatory alms-tax assessed on accumulated wealth, and distributed among the poor.
38. The Nusairis (also known as 'Alawis) are a Shi'ite sect that has a particularly fanatic devotion to 'Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him). They hold that Allaah appears in the form of certain persons on the earth, and since there were no persons after the Prophet of Allaah better than 'Ali and his sons, Allaah manifested Himself in them and spoke with their tongues.
39. Abdul Qaahir Al-Baghdaadi states the Sunni position in Al-Farqu bainal-Firaq: "They unanimously agreed that the ruling of disbelief must be made regarding a person who has called a kaafir any of the ten Companions whom the Prophet (may Allaah's blessings and peace be upon him) testified would be among the inhabitants of Paradise." He also said that it is waajib (compulsory) to give a verdict of kufr (heretical disbelief) in the case of anyone who considers any of the Companions to be disbelievers.
40. Qur’aan 43:86
41. Ibn Katheer. Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah Vol. 8. p. 233
42. The Companions of Muhammad are considered the best of creation after the Prophets and Messengers of Allaah.
43. It is a Shi'ite tradition that Taqiyyah is my faith and the faith of my forefathers. They also say that whosoever does not practice taqiyyah then he has no faith. Furthermore it is mentioned in Al-lslamu Sabeelus-sa'aadah was-salaam "If a person expected harm to befall him or his wealth in the general public order, it is incumbent upon him to abandon the order of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. This ruling is one of the peculiarities specific to the Shi'ites, and is called at-taqiyyah." Clearly if this were to be followed to the letter, even Jihad (holy struggle for the sake of Allaah) could be abandoned and this would be definitely in contradiction to the command of Allaah the Exalted.

Masjid al Ghuraaba, Luton

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