Key features of Shi'a Islam

Question 1

What is the simple shahadah belief for Shi’as?

Answer 1

I declare there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. Shi’as add the following: ‘I bear witness that Ali is the beloved of Allah and the rightful trustee of the prophet and his immediate successor.’

Question 2

How Shi’as practice Salah (simple version)?

Answer 2

Sh’ias do not cross their hands whilst standing in qiyam but have them by their side; they touch their forehead to a wooden block from Karbala, a holy city, rather than the floor and they position their feet differently.

Question 3

What is the quote for key features of Shi’a Islam?

Answer 3

I declare there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. Shi’as add the following: I bear witness that Ali is the beloved of Allah and the rightful trustee of the prophet and his immediate successor’ (Shahadah for Shi’a Muslims)

Question 4

What is Maroof?

Answer 4

Directing others to good

Question 5

What is Munkar?

Answer 5

Forbidding evil

Question 6

What is Tawalla?

Answer 6

Expressing love towards God

Question 7

What is Tabarra?

Answer 7

Expressing hatred/disassociation with those who oppose Allah

Question 8

What percentage of all Muslims is Shi’a and the percentages in different countries?

Answer 8

10-15% Shi’a. Islam is the main religion in 50 countries; Indonesia has the largest group. Iran is a mainly Shi’a country –Azerbaijan 75% Shi’a, Bahrain 70%, Lebanon 65%, Iraq 66% and Yemen 45%., Syria 15%, Pakistan 20% and many others.

Question 9

What are ten obligatory acts of Shi’a Islam?

Answer 9

1. Salah (prayer)
2. Saum (Fasting)
3. Zakah (charity)
4. Hajj (pilgrimage)
5. Jihad - struggle
6. Khums - 20% tax on yearly earnings after household expenses (Khums)
7. Maroof - Directing others to good
8. Munkar - Forbidding evil
9. Tawalla - Expressing love towards God
10. Tabarra- Expressing hatred/disassociation with those who oppose Allah. The first four are the same as the Pillars of Islam and Jihad applies to all Muslims the final five are not part of Sunni Islam.

Question 10

What the purpose of Wuzu for Shi’as?

Answer 10

.it is a divine order
. it does away with laziness and drowsiness and purifies the heart; it is more than a ritual, it is part of prayer
. Allah sees people in prayer and it eliminates pride
. It cancels out sin
.Without being in the right mindset, prayer is not valid for them

Question 11

What is the purpose of sawm for Shi’as?

Answer 11

.is to experience the pain and hunger of the poor in order to become generous and also a reminder of what awaits them on Judgement Day
.It should help them grow spiritually and make you stronger at rejecting evil

Question 12

What is Hajj to Shi’as?

Answer 12

This has an effect on all Muslims – those who stay there have their sins forgiven and also their family’s sins. It is important to personally see the Ka’aba, the black stone, Arafat and Mina. They also believe your bodies become healthy and your faith improves.
Zakah: the purpose is to test the rich and provide for the poor. They think if all people paid zakah, they would be no poor.

Question 13

What are Khums to Shia’s?

Answer 13

This is unique to Shi’a – a 20% tax on your savings. Originally, it was split six ways: for the good of Allah, to Muhammad, relatives of Muhammad, orphans, the needy and anyone who is away from home and has no money to return. Now it is paid to religious teachers to hand out.

Question 14

What is Amr bil-Ma’roof and Nahi ‘Anil-Munkar?

Answer 14

.Amr bil-Ma’roof - directing others towards good/justice. Ma’roof means anything which is a just action
.Nahi ‘Anil-Munkar - Commanding what is just and forbidding evil. Munkar means anything which is detestable

Question 15

How does Amr bil-Ma’roof and Nahi ‘Anil-Munkar affect lives of Muslims?

Answer 15

/.Promoting what is good is a key characteristic of a Muslim
.Success in this world is dependent on meeting this obligation
.Hypocrites promote wrong and forbid what is right – Allah forgets those who have forgotten him.
.Muhammad believed that some people act as role models, whilst the rest just follow their lead - this can be true for good and bad.

Question 16

What is Tawalla and Tabarra

(extendend)

Answer 16

This is obligatory in Shi’a Islam but it is not clear exactly what these are; it is up to the individual to decide. Sunni Muslims do not have this belief as they think they cause division. Shi’a Muslims believe that they have been persecuted since the death of Muhammad. Some Muslims misunderstand the idea of Tawalla as they think Shi’a Muslims worship the imams rather than the Qur’an which they think is blasphemy. Shi’as say they visit shrines to the Prophet Muhammad and his family (Husseiniya - this is the name of the shrine), but this does not overtake their love of Allah or the Qur’an.