Muhammadite Shia
Encyclopedia
The Muhammadite Shia were a Shia sect who believed that due to the supposed lack of a son (according to their opinion) for Hasan al-Askari
, they had to rethink the legitimacy of his Imamate
. Therefore, they instead believed in the Imamate of his brother Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi, who died 7 years before the death of his father. However, the Muhammadites denied the death of Muhammad, and claimed that his father had pointed to him and appointed him as the Imam to succeed himself, and had mentioned him by his name and person. These beliefs, falsely according to them, are what were agreed by all.
To support their position, they believed it was impossible for the Imam to point through will to one who was not the Imam. Therefore, to support this belief, they argued that Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi did not die in reality, as was apparent. According to them, his father had rather hidden him due to Taqiyyah (as the Ismailis claimed Ja'far al-Sadiq
hid his son Isma'il ibn Jafar) and he was the Awaited Mahdi
.
The Nafisites believed that Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi did die and that he gave the will to a servant of his father called Nafis. According to them, Muhammad handed over to Nafis books, different kinds of knowledge, the sword and whatever the Ummah
would need. They also believed that Muhammad advised Nafis to give all these things to his brother Ja'far ibn Ali al-Hadi if he (i.e. Muhammad) died.
The Nafisites took a very violent stand as regards Hasan al-Askari. They considered him and all those who believed in his Imamate as unbelievers. They also held extreme views in the case of Ja'far ibn Ali al-Hadi and claimed that he was the Mahdi.
Hasan al-Askari
Hasan al-‘Askarī was the eleventh of the Twelve Imams. His given name was Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Muhammad...
, they had to rethink the legitimacy of his Imamate
Imamah (Shi'a doctrine)
Imāmah is the Shia doctrine of religious, spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. The Shīa believe that the A'immah are the true Caliphs or rightful successors of Muḥammad, and further that Imams are possessed of divine knowledge and authority as well as being part of the Ahl al-Bayt,...
. Therefore, they instead believed in the Imamate of his brother Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi, who died 7 years before the death of his father. However, the Muhammadites denied the death of Muhammad, and claimed that his father had pointed to him and appointed him as the Imam to succeed himself, and had mentioned him by his name and person. These beliefs, falsely according to them, are what were agreed by all.
To support their position, they believed it was impossible for the Imam to point through will to one who was not the Imam. Therefore, to support this belief, they argued that Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi did not die in reality, as was apparent. According to them, his father had rather hidden him due to Taqiyyah (as the Ismailis claimed Ja'far al-Sadiq
Ja'far al-Sadiq
Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq was a descendant of Muhammad and a prominent Muslim jurist. He is revered as an Imam by the adherents of Shi'a Islam and as a renowned Islamic scholar and personality by Sunni Muslims. The Shi'a Muslims consider him to be the sixth Imam or leader and spiritual...
hid his son Isma'il ibn Jafar) and he was the Awaited Mahdi
Mahdi
In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on Earth for seven, nine or nineteen years- before the Day of Judgment and, alongside Jesus, will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny.In Shia Islam, the belief in the Mahdi is a "central religious...
.
Nafisites
The Nafisites (named for a servant of Ali al-Hadi called Nafis) were an extremist Shia sub-sect of the Muhammadites.The Nafisites believed that Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi did die and that he gave the will to a servant of his father called Nafis. According to them, Muhammad handed over to Nafis books, different kinds of knowledge, the sword and whatever the Ummah
Ummah
Ummah is an Arabic word meaning "community" or "nation." It is commonly used to mean either the collective nation of states, or the whole Arab world...
would need. They also believed that Muhammad advised Nafis to give all these things to his brother Ja'far ibn Ali al-Hadi if he (i.e. Muhammad) died.
The Nafisites took a very violent stand as regards Hasan al-Askari. They considered him and all those who believed in his Imamate as unbelievers. They also held extreme views in the case of Ja'far ibn Ali al-Hadi and claimed that he was the Mahdi.