Criticism of Twelver Shi'ism
Encyclopedia
Criticism of Shi'a has occurred since the initial rift between the primary factions of Islam, the Sunni and Shi'a. Sunni commentators have identified several aspects of Shi'a belief which they allege are incorrect and even 'heretical.' Further, Shi'a commentators and authorities have criticised practices and beliefs which have become prevalent in the Shi'a community, engaging in self-criticism in an attempt to reform the faith.
("pleasure marriage"), is a fixed-term marriage practiced in Twelver Shi’ism. The duration of this type of marriage is fixed at its inception and is then automatically dissolved upon completion of its term. For this reason, nikah mut‘ah has been widely criticised as the religious cover and legalization of prostitution
.
is a Shi'a practice under which it is permissible to lie about one's faith in order to preserve life. The Shi'a have been criticised for this practice, deemed cowardly, especially given Islam's emphasis on the declaration of faith.
However, Shi'a commentators have argued that taqiyya has precedents from the time of Muhammad
, including the story of Ammar ibn Yasir
, a follower of Muhammad who saved his life by pretending to return to idolatry, only to return to Muhammad later and resume life as a Muslim. Such commentators argue that to not avoid certain death is illogical, and that dissimulation is permissible under various circumstances, such as to preserve life, to protect the chastity of women, or avoid destitution.
, Umar
and Uthman
who supported Mohammad as per Sunni belief during the early days of Islam but later turned enemies of Mohammad's household (Ahl al Bayt) as per Shia belief. Such Shi'a practices include the recited Dua Sanamain Quraish
, which calls God's curse on the first two caliphs following Muhammad's death, Abu Bakr
and Umar
. Following the Safavid empire's conversion to the Shi'a sect of Islam, the first three caliphs, whom the Shi'a felt usurped Ali's right to be caliph, were cursed during Friday sermons.
As Sunni scholar Shaykh Saleh Al-Fawzan
summarises:
During the 1960s, when an incipient ecumenical movement called for the unification of Shi'a and Sunni Islam, religious writers cited this "disrespect" for the Sahaba as a barrier to unification. In 1980s and 1990s, three major religious writers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan again cited this argument, noting that until all "profanity" against the Sahaba was abandoned, dialogue with Shi'a scholars could not begin.
, the observation of the martyrdom of Husayn
traditionally accompanied by acts of ritual self-harm. These acts have not only been criticised by non-Shi'a; the Supreme Leader of Iran
, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a 1994 just for one year because he want people to donate blood for the army which was fighting against Iraq and Saudi army.
was 7 and a half years old at the time he assumed the imamate; the 10th imam Ali al-Hadi
was between 6.5 and 8.5 years, and the 12th and final imam Muhammad al-Mahdi
was 4 and a half years old. Critics argue against the possibility of these personalities assuming the leadership of the Imamate
at such young ages. Wilferd Madelung
notes, however, that in Shi'a belief the knowledge of an imam comes from "inspiration, not acquisition", and thus that even a young imam is not considered unprepared, receiving revelation upon the death of his predecessor.
received divine revelations after her father's death. During the 75 days that Fatimah had contact and communication with Gabriel, her husband Ali wrote down and recorded the revelations that were made to Fatimah which she dictated to him, to form the Book of Fatimah
.
Sunni critics argue that Fatimah never received divine revelations and as a result they also deny the existence of the Book of Fatimah.
Nikah mut‘ah
Nikah mut‘ahNikah mut‘ah
' , is a fixed-term marriage in Shi'a Islam. The duration of this type of marriage is fixed at its inception and is then automatically dissolved upon completion of its term. The marriage is contractual and is subject to renewal...
("pleasure marriage"), is a fixed-term marriage practiced in Twelver Shi’ism. The duration of this type of marriage is fixed at its inception and is then automatically dissolved upon completion of its term. For this reason, nikah mut‘ah has been widely criticised as the religious cover and legalization of prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
.
Taqiyya (dissimulation)
TaqiyyaTaqiyya
Taqiyya , meaning religious dissimulation, is a practice emphasized in Shi'a Islam whereby adherents may conceal their religion when they are under threat, persecution, or compulsion...
is a Shi'a practice under which it is permissible to lie about one's faith in order to preserve life. The Shi'a have been criticised for this practice, deemed cowardly, especially given Islam's emphasis on the declaration of faith.
However, Shi'a commentators have argued that taqiyya has precedents from the time of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, including the story of Ammar ibn Yasir
Ammar ibn Yasir
ʻAmmār ibn Yāsir al-Ansi was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was one of the Muhajirun, and referred to as by Shia Muslims as one of the Four Companions....
, a follower of Muhammad who saved his life by pretending to return to idolatry, only to return to Muhammad later and resume life as a Muslim. Such commentators argue that to not avoid certain death is illogical, and that dissimulation is permissible under various circumstances, such as to preserve life, to protect the chastity of women, or avoid destitution.
Alleged disrespect to Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman
One allegation commonly leveled against the Shi'a is that they disrespect the Sunni Caliphs Abu BakrAbu Bakr
Abu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
, Umar
Umar
`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c. 2 November , was a leading companion and adviser to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who later became the second Muslim Caliph after Muhammad's death....
and Uthman
Uthman
Uthman ibn Affan was one of the companions of Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He played a major role in early Islamic history as the third Sunni Rashidun or Rightly Guided Caliph....
who supported Mohammad as per Sunni belief during the early days of Islam but later turned enemies of Mohammad's household (Ahl al Bayt) as per Shia belief. Such Shi'a practices include the recited Dua Sanamain Quraish
Dua Sanamain Quraish
Dua Sanamain Quraish , is a Shia tradition, used in cursing the first two Sunni caliphs; Abu Bakr and Umar. It is found in the Shi'a religious work, Alsaheefa Al-Alawiya...
, which calls God's curse on the first two caliphs following Muhammad's death, Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
and Umar
Umar
`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c. 2 November , was a leading companion and adviser to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who later became the second Muslim Caliph after Muhammad's death....
. Following the Safavid empire's conversion to the Shi'a sect of Islam, the first three caliphs, whom the Shi'a felt usurped Ali's right to be caliph, were cursed during Friday sermons.
As Sunni scholar Shaykh Saleh Al-Fawzan
Saleh Al-Fawzan
Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, born 1933, is a well known scholar in Saudi Arabia and prolific author.His surname is also rendered Fozan or Fawzaan.He is also known as Sheikh/Shaykh Dr...
summarises:
- The Raafidis [Shi'a] are the opposite: they love the Prophet's family (ahl al-bayt) - or so they claim, but they hate the Saahaaba, whom they curse, denounce as kaafirs, and criticize.
During the 1960s, when an incipient ecumenical movement called for the unification of Shi'a and Sunni Islam, religious writers cited this "disrespect" for the Sahaba as a barrier to unification. In 1980s and 1990s, three major religious writers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan again cited this argument, noting that until all "profanity" against the Sahaba was abandoned, dialogue with Shi'a scholars could not begin.
Self-flagellation during Ashura
The Shi'as have been criticised for the practice of self-flagellation during AshuraDay of Ashura
The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram.It is commemorated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10...
, the observation of the martyrdom of Husayn
Husayn ibn Ali
Hussein ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib was the son of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib and Fātimah Zahrā...
traditionally accompanied by acts of ritual self-harm. These acts have not only been criticised by non-Shi'a; the Supreme Leader of Iran
Supreme Leader of Iran
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The post was established by the constitution in accordance with the concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists...
, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a 1994 just for one year because he want people to donate blood for the army which was fighting against Iraq and Saudi army.
Child imams
Three of the Twelve Imams, held by the Shi'a to be God's representatives on Earth, were less than ten years old when they assumed the undisputed sole and ultimate leadership of the Twelver Shia community. The ninth imam, Muhammad al-TaqiMuhammad al-Taqi
Muhammad al-Taqī or Muhammad al-Jawād was the ninth of the Twelve Imams of Twelver Shi'ism. His given name was Muhammad ibn ‘Alī ibn Mūsā, and among his titles, al-Taqī and al-Jawād are the most renowned...
was 7 and a half years old at the time he assumed the imamate; the 10th imam Ali al-Hadi
Ali al-Hadi
‘Alī al-Hādī , also known as ‘Alī an-Naqī was the tenth of the Twelve Imams. His full name is ‘Alī ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Alī. The exact date of his birth and death are unknown, but it is generally accepted that he was born between 827–830 CE and he died in 868 CE.- Early years :‘Alī al-Hādī was born...
was between 6.5 and 8.5 years, and the 12th and final imam Muhammad al-Mahdi
Muhammad al-Mahdi
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mahdī is believed by Twelver Shī‘a Muslims to be the Mahdī, an ultimate savior of humankind and the final Imām of the Twelve Imams...
was 4 and a half years old. Critics argue against the possibility of these personalities assuming the leadership of the Imamate
Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)
Imāmah means "leadership" and it is a part of the Shi'a theology. The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver or Ithna Ashariya branch of Shia Islam....
at such young ages. Wilferd Madelung
Wilferd Madelung
Wilferd Ferdinand Madelung is a scholar of Islam. He was born in Stuttgart, Germany, where he completed his early education at Eberhard-Ludwigs-Gymnasium....
notes, however, that in Shi'a belief the knowledge of an imam comes from "inspiration, not acquisition", and thus that even a young imam is not considered unprepared, receiving revelation upon the death of his predecessor.
Fatimah's divine revelations
According to Twelver Shi’ism, Muhammad's daughter FatimahFatimah
Fatimah was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She is regarded by Muslims as an exemplar for men and women. She remained at her father's side through the difficulties suffered by him at the hands of the Quraysh of Mecca...
received divine revelations after her father's death. During the 75 days that Fatimah had contact and communication with Gabriel, her husband Ali wrote down and recorded the revelations that were made to Fatimah which she dictated to him, to form the Book of Fatimah
Book of Fatimah
The Book of Fatimah, Mushaf of Fatimah or Fatimah's Mushaf is according to Shi'as tradition, a book written by Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad.-Shi'a view:...
.
Sunni critics argue that Fatimah never received divine revelations and as a result they also deny the existence of the Book of Fatimah.