Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Shia Rebuts

Author: Sayyid Rida Husayni Nasab
Translator: Mansoor L. Limba
Publisher: ABWA Publishing and Printing Center
Category:

• Foreword
• Note
• Introduction
• Notes
• Question 1 : Which is correct, “wa ‘itrati” {and my progeny}, or “wa sunnati” {and my tradition}?
• The chain of transmission of the narration, “wa ahli bayti” {and my Household}
• The chain of transmission of the narration, “wa sunnati” {and my tradition}
• What the ‘ulama’ of rijal say about the two versions
• The second chain of transmission of the narration, “wa sunnati” {and my tradition}
• The third chain of transmission of the narration, “wa sunnati” {and my tradition}
• Narration without a chain of transmission
• The meaning of Hadith ath-Thaqalayn {Tradition on the Two Weighty Things}
• Notes
• Question 2 : What does “Shi‘ah” mean?
• Notes
• Question 3 : Why is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (‘a) regarded as the wasi {executor of will} and successor of the Prophet (S)?
• 1. At the Commencement of the Prophetic Mission
• 2. During the Tabuk Expedition
• 3. In the 10th Year after Hijrah
• Notes
• Question 4: Who are the Imams?
• Notes
• Question 5: Why do Shi’a say “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa Ali Muhammad”
• Notes
• Question 6: Why do you regard your Imams as “infallible” {ma‘sum}?
• Note
• Question 7: Why do Shi’a Add Ashhadu anna ‘aliyyan waliyyullah” in the Call to Prayer?
• Notes
• Question 8: Who is the Mahdi of Muhammad’s Progeny {Al Muhammad} and why are you waiting for his advent?
• Notes
• 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)?
• Notes
• Question 10: What is raj‘ah {“return”} and why do you believe in it?
• Conclusion
• 1. The philosophy of raj‘ah
• 2. The main difference between raj‘ah and tanasukh {transmigration}
• Notes
• Question 11: What is shafa‘ah {intercession}, which you believe in?
• The extent of shafa‘ah
• The philosophy of shafa‘ah
• The outcome of shafa‘ah
• Notes
• Question 12: Is asking the rightful intercessors for intercession {shafa‘ah} tantamount to polytheism {shirk}?
• Notes
• Question 13: Is seeking help from someone other than God regarded as a kind of polytheism {shirk}?
• Notes
• Question 14: Is calling on someone tantamount to worshipping him and to polytheism?
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Question 15: What is bada’ and why do you believe in it?
• Conclusion
• The philosophy behind bada’
• Notes
• Question 16: Do the Shi‘ah believe in the tahrif {distortion} of the Qur’an?
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Question 17: How do the Shi‘ah view the Sahabah {Companions}?
• Sahabi {Companion} from the viewpoint of the Qur’an
• The first group
• 1. The first followers
• 2. Those who swore allegiance under the tree
• 3. The Muhajirun {Emigrants}
• 4. The Companions who fought alongside the Prophet (S)
• The second group
• 1. Known hypocrites
• 2. Unknown hypocrites
• 3. Sick-hearted ones
• 4. Sinners
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Question 18: What is meant by “temporary marriage” {mut‘ah} and why do the Shi‘ah regard it as lawful?
• Notes
• Question 19: Why do the Shi‘ah prostrate on turbah {dried clay}?
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Question 20: During ziyarah, why do the Shi‘ah kiss the doors and walls of the shrines of awliya’ and seek blessings {tabarruk} whereby?
• Notes
• Question 21: Is according to Islam religion separate from politics?
• The Prophet (S) as the founder of Islamic government
• Notes
• 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)?
• Notes
• Question 23: Why do the Shi‘ah believe that caliphate {khilafah} is a matter of appointment {tansisi}?
• Social considerations which testify to the belief that caliphate is a matter of appointment {tansisi}
• Further explanation
• The evidence of the sayings of the Messenger of Allah (S)
• Notes
• Question 24: Is to swear by other than God regarded as a kind of polytheism?
• Conclusion
• Notes
• 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}?
• Types of tawassul
• Notes
• Question 26: Is celebrating the birthday of the saints {awliya’} of God a kind of polytheism and innovation {bid‘ah}?
• Holding ceremonies is a means of expressing love
• Holding of ceremonies is the same as following and obeying God
• Sending down revelation is not less significant than sending down table-spread {ma’idah}
• The Muslims’ Practice
• Notes
• Question 27 : Why do the Shi‘ah perform the five daily prayers in three periods?
• A glance at the traditions
• Conclusion
• 1. Combining two prayers together is meant to facilitate the conduct of affairs and avoid difficulty
• 2. Combining the two prayers together in ‘Arafah is an expression of its general applicability
• 3. The manner of combining the two prayers while traveling is an expression of its general applicability
• 4. The manner of combining the two prayers together in the state of emergency is an expression of its general applicability at usual circumstances
• 5. The practice of the Companions of the Prophet (S) is an expression of its general applicability
• 6. The conduct of the Prophet (S) is an expression of the manner of combining the two prayers
• Notes
• Question 28: What are the sources of Shi‘i jurisprudence {fiqh}?
• 1) The Book of Allah (Qur’an)
• 2) The Sunnah
• The reason for clinging to the Sunnah of the Prophet (S)
• The reason for clinging to the hadiths of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a)
• The essence of the hadiths of the progeny of the Messenger of Allah (S)
• The proofs of the credibility and necessity of clinging to the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a)
• Who are the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet (S)?
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Question 29 : Did Abu Talib die a believer on account of which you visit {ziyarah} his shrine?
• The family of Abu Talib
• Abu Talib according to ‘Abd al-Muttalib
• Proofs which confirm Abu Talib’s faith
• 1. Literary works of Abu Talib
• 2. Abu Talib’s behavior toward the Prophet (S) is indicative of his faith
• 3. Abu Talib’s will and testament is a clear testimony to his true faith
• 4. The Messenger of Allah’s love and affection to Abu Talib testifies to the latter’s faith
• 5. The companions of the Messenger of Allah’s testimony to Abu Talib’s true faith
• 6. Abu Talib in the view of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a)
• A review of Hadith ad-Duhdah
• The groundlessness of the chain of transmission of Hadith ad-Duhdah
• a. Sufyan ibn Sa‘id ath-Thawri
• b. ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Umayr
• c. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Muhammad ad-Darawardi
• d. Layth ibn Sa‘d
• The disagreement between the contents of Hadith ad-Duhdah, and the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (S)
• Conclusion
• Notes
• 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?
• The origin of this accusation
• Prophethood {nubuwwah} from the Shi‘ah viewpoint
• Notes
• Question 31: What is the criterion of taqiyyah {dissimulation}?
• Taqiyyah from the Qur’anic viewpoint
• Taqiyyah from the Shi‘ah viewpoint
• Conclusion
• Notes
• 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?
• The criterion for selecting the Ja‘fari madhhab
• The status of the other Muslim schools of thought and the respect shown to them
• Question 33 : Do the Shi‘ah regard witr prayer as obligatory?
• Note
• Question 34: Is the belief that great divine people {awliya’} have supernatural power tantamount to polytheism {shirk}?
• Supernatural power of great divine people from a Qur’anic viewpoint
• 1. The supernatural power of Hadrat Musa (Moses) (‘a)
• 2. The supernatural power of Hadrat ‘Isa (Jesus) (‘a)
• 3. The supernatural power of Hadrat Sulayman (Solomon) (‘a)
• Notes
• Question 35 : Why is the station of Imamate {imamah} higher than that of prophethood {nubuwwah}?
• 1. The station of nubuwwah
• 2. The station of risalah
• 3. The station of imamah
• Superiority of the station of imamah
• Are nubuwwah and imamah correlative?
• Notes
• Question 36 : What is the criterion for distinguishing monotheism or the Unity of God {tawhid} from polytheism {shirk}?
• 1. The unity of the Divine Essence {dhat}
• 2. The unity of the Divine creative power {khaliqiyyah}
• 3. The unity of the Divine design {tadbir}
• 4. Monotheism in authority {hakimiyyah}
• 5. Monotheism in obedience {ta‘ah}
• 6. The unity of the Divine legislation {taqnin or tashri‘}
• 7. Monotheism in worship {‘ibadah}
• Misconception about worship
• The excuse is worse than the sin!
• Resolving the ambiguity and the true meaning of ‘ibadah
• Notes
• Bibliography